On 9/12/2009 6:44 AM, Wietse Venema wrote:
I think that it is a mistake to replace the specific
warning: database /etc/postfix/client_checks.db is older than
source file /etc/postfix/client_checks
By the generic
Database file needs update
Because it keeps the reader in the dark (given the generic text,
the user does not even know what to look for in the logfile).
It doesn't, not as you state it out of context. The generic message is
only a collapsed Summary pushed to the top of the output for easy
scanning. User's are encouraged to look elsewhere for the real details:
From the postfix-logwatch(1):
--
Postfix-logwatch is able to produce a wide range of reports with data
grouped and sorted as much as possible to reduce noise and highlight
patterns. Brief summary reports provide a quick overview of general
Postfix operations and message delivery, calling out warnings that may
require attention. Detailed reports provide easy to scan, hierarchi-
cally-arranged and organized information, with as much or little detail
as desired.
--
I agree that many programs produce useless error messages. In the
case of Postfix, I actually put in effort to make messages useful.
So would I appreciate it if other people don't dumb down the
information that Postfix tries to give.
Wietse
I don't for a moment question the usefulness of your error messages. I
had a choice: a) present line after line of verbatim log messages, each
varying slightly, or b) pull out and promote the primary, equivalent
parts, moving the varying nouns, subjects, or actions into the hierarchy
to allow increasing disclosure as users want it. My goal was the later.
Once this approach is taken, however, some "sentences", whose subjects
have been moved deeper into the hierarchy, are less readable, or present
ambiguity (eg. if there are two subjects such as a source and destination).
To me, this:
97 *Warning: Database file needs update
----------------------------------------------------
80 /etc/postfix/virtual
17 /etc/postfix/transport
looks better and reads easier than this:
Warnings
--------
cleanup (total: 16)
16 database /etc/postfix/virtual.db is older than source file
/etc...
smtpd (total: 47)
47 database /etc/postfix/virtual.db is older than source file
/etc...
trivial-rewrite (total: 34)
17 database /etc/postfix/virtual.db is older than source file
/etc...
17 database /etc/postfix/transport.db is older than source
file /e...
which a) must needlessly must truncate or line-wrap, b) repeats the same
message over and over, and c) presents a by-program breakdown which is
uninteresting.
So I choose brevity, minimalism, and visual clarity for my use.
See my other response to Glenn.
Anyway, this is likely way off topic, so perhaps this can be pushed over
to the postfix-logwatch list for further discussions.
--
Mike
--
Mike
