Debian bug tracking software

The Debian bug tracking system is a set of scripts which maintain a database of problem reports.

Key features:

All input and manipulation of reports is done by email; developers do not need on-line web access or accounts on the host system.
Outstanding, recently closed and other listings of reports are made available via a webserver, and by an email request bot.
Each report has a separate email address for submission of additional information.
WWW listings of bugs can be mirrored by email or HTTP.
Core functions do not require CGI scripts.
The Debian Project's instance has handled 16000 reports over the past 3-4 years, and currently has a database of 5000 reports totalling 90Mb (January 1997).
GPL'd.

The scripts have been parameterised so that they can be used for other projects besides Debian; however, for a feel of what the results are like please see my local mirror of the Debian Project bug database, which also contains the system's user documentation.

The system runs on Unix and expects to have its own (possibly `virtual') mail domain, with the MTA for the host system being configured to pass mail for the bug system to it via a pipe command. You will need a fairly complete modern Unix installation to use it; most of the code is written in Perl5. A full list of requirements is in the README.

Download

Available here are:

The current version as a gzipped tarfile.
All previously distributed versions are also available via anonymous FTP.

Mailinglists

I have set up two mailinglists debbugs-announce and debbugs-discuss. The announcements list is moderated and will contain only announcements of important bugs, new versions, &c.

To subscribe, go to the list management pages or send mail containing the word subscribe to debbugs-announce-REQUEST@chiark.greenend.org.uk or debbugs-discuss-REQUEST@chiark.greenend.org.uk.

History

In 1994 the Debian Project needed a system for keeping track of outstanding bugs. There didn't appear to be anything which met our requirements (GNATS, the GNU offering, seemed overly complex in the wrong areas, and had only very rudimentary email support), so I wrote a rudimentary system. Since then the system has grown fairly organically, and now has a fairly rich feature set.

nCipher, my employers since 1997, needed a similar system, and they agreed to have me parameterise (on company time) the system so that it could be used for other projects including their own.

Projects using the system

Debian GNU/Linux; public.
GNOME desktop project; public.
KDE desktop project; public.
nCipher Corporation Ltd; internal.

I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know at debbugs-maint@chiark.greenend.org.uk if you decide to use this system.

Copyright

The Debian bug tracking system is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program and documentation is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with the system, or one should be available above; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA, or email debbugs-maint@chiark.greenend.org.uk.

Ian Jackson / debbugs-maint@chiark.greenend.org.uk; more free software.

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