My first linux contribution is a disaster
So I recently submitted a patch to the NetworkManager component: https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=607731 - but it turns out to be a duplicate because this problem was addressed in https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=600779 - by default Bugzilla doesn't seem to include 'resolved' defects in the search results. You have to go to advanced search and select all statuses.
So, if my patch wasn't needed, and this issue has been resolved, then why doesn't the source code in trunk have this change? Bug 600779 mentions that service providers is deprecated, but by what? Ubuntu 9.10 still uses it, because when I edited /usr/share/mobile-broadband-provider-info/serviceproviders.xml it worked fine for me.
If service providers is deprecated, then why isn't there something on the homepage? Bugzilla doesn't seem to report which source files were changed in a bug - something I quite like in JIRA. See comment #1:
But what got changed? That would give me a clue.
Checking the version I'm running:
So if Ubuntu are still using it then why wouldn't there be patches and maintenance releases?
Now, searching for Ubuntu specific information turns up NetworkManager provider information which doesn't have the Virgin APN I need. So how do I fix this? Well, it says:
I'm was stunned to find out that this type of generic information was window manager specific (GNOME) now it looks like it is distribution specific (Ubuntu). If anyone can tell me the reasoning behind this, I'd love to know. Because right now, it looks crazy to me. Especially from a point of view that I just want to contribute something. It's kind of weird that it's even Operating System specific really, it really just should be a web service available to anyone and everyone, and the Operating Systems just update from it. Anyway... continuing the saga...
This bug report makes interesting reading. Apparently everything was fixed last year: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mobile-broadband-provider-info/+bug/280490
It also says that the Virgin website documents the APN being VirginBroadband. But that page doesn't exist any more. I can only find one reference to APN on their site, and thats the wrong one.
So, I've updated the Ubuntu wiki to add the Virgin APN to the list of providers. I wasn't sure whether to update the Mobile Broadband Cards section with the Huawei e160e, since they've already got the 160 and 160g. But I can't find any source code - I got as far as finding this: http://packages.ubuntu.com/source/lucid/mobile-broadband-provider-info - but the trail ends there.
Anyway, I've spent way too long on this. What started out as a simple patch has only shown me how little I know about the Linux environment, packages, and how the source is maintained. Maybe over time I'll get more familiar with it all.
So, if my patch wasn't needed, and this issue has been resolved, then why doesn't the source code in trunk have this change? Bug 600779 mentions that service providers is deprecated, but by what? Ubuntu 9.10 still uses it, because when I edited /usr/share/mobile-broadband-provider-info/serviceproviders.xml it worked fine for me.
If service providers is deprecated, then why isn't there something on the homepage? Bugzilla doesn't seem to report which source files were changed in a bug - something I quite like in JIRA. See comment #1:
VirginInternet would still be used for tethering a phone, but I've added
VirginBroadband. Thanks!
But what got changed? That would give me a clue.
Checking the version I'm running:
paul@paul-laptop:~$ dpkg -s mobile-broadband-provider-info
Package: mobile-broadband-provider-info
Status: install ok installed
Priority: extra
Section: admin
Installed-Size: 180
Maintainer: Ubuntu MOTU Developers <ubuntu-motu@lists.ubuntu.com>
Architecture: all
Version: 20091009-0ubuntu1
Breaks: libmbca0
Description: database of mobile broadband service providers
Contains service provider specific settings of mobile broadband providers in
different countries.
Homepage: http://live.gnome.org/NetworkManager/MobileBroadband/ServiceProviders
Original-Maintainer: Antti Kaijanmäki (Wellark) <antti@kaijanmaki.net>
So if Ubuntu are still using it then why wouldn't there be patches and maintenance releases?
Now, searching for Ubuntu specific information turns up NetworkManager provider information which doesn't have the Virgin APN I need. So how do I fix this? Well, it says:
If you discover you need provider information from here or elsewhere, please file a bug against the mobile-broadband-provider-info package so we can improve the experience for all users to a level where all providers Just Work out of the box. https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mobile-broadband-provider-info
As today (16/01/09) bug #317860 at Launchpad cover a lot of Service Providers missing. (https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mobile-broadband-provider-info/+bug/317860)
I'm was stunned to find out that this type of generic information was window manager specific (GNOME) now it looks like it is distribution specific (Ubuntu). If anyone can tell me the reasoning behind this, I'd love to know. Because right now, it looks crazy to me. Especially from a point of view that I just want to contribute something. It's kind of weird that it's even Operating System specific really, it really just should be a web service available to anyone and everyone, and the Operating Systems just update from it. Anyway... continuing the saga...
This bug report makes interesting reading. Apparently everything was fixed last year: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mobile-broadband-provider-info/+bug/280490
It also says that the Virgin website documents the APN being VirginBroadband. But that page doesn't exist any more. I can only find one reference to APN on their site, and thats the wrong one.
So, I've updated the Ubuntu wiki to add the Virgin APN to the list of providers. I wasn't sure whether to update the Mobile Broadband Cards section with the Huawei e160e, since they've already got the 160 and 160g. But I can't find any source code - I got as far as finding this: http://packages.ubuntu.com/source/lucid/mobile-broadband-provider-info - but the trail ends there.
Anyway, I've spent way too long on this. What started out as a simple patch has only shown me how little I know about the Linux environment, packages, and how the source is maintained. Maybe over time I'll get more familiar with it all.