Bug #29863 for CPAN: output too verbose

Tue Oct 09 06:37:01 2007 MARKOV [...] cpan.org - Ticket created

Subject:

output too verbose

I really would like CPAN.pm to be much less verbose. The purpose of feedback to the user, is that they see when things go wrong (or right). The output of CPAN.pm is so verbose (by default only?) that it is impossible for people to understand what is happening. My request is especially focused on messages like 'YAML' not installed, falling back to Data::Dumper and Storable to read prefs '/root/.cpan/prefs' Iff there is a good fallback, then why bother the user with this remark which is only understandable by Perl die-hards? My wish: please create an output-log in a file, and only show the user whether an installation was completed successfully or not, with a pointer to the (temporary) log.

Fri Oct 12 00:01:12 2007 andreas.koenig.7os6VVqR [...] franz.ak.mind.de - Correspondence added

Subject:	Re: [rt.cpan.org #29863] output too verbose
Date:	Fri, 12 Oct 2007 05:48:56 +0200
To:	bug-CPAN [...] rt.cpan.org
From:	andreas.koenig.7os6VVqR [...] franz.ak.mind.de (Andreas J. Koenig)

Show quoted text

>>>>> On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:37:07 -0400, "Mark Overmeer via RT" <bug-CPAN@rt.cpan.org> said:

Show quoted text

> Tue Oct 09 06:37:01 2007: Request 29863 was acted upon. > Transaction: Ticket created by MARKOV > Queue: CPAN > Subject: output too verbose > Broken in: 1.9203 > Severity: Wishlist > Owner: Nobody > Requestors: MARKOV@cpan.org > Status: new > Ticket <URL: http://rt.cpan.org/Ticket/Display.html?id=29863 >

Show quoted text

> I really would like CPAN.pm to be much less verbose. The purpose of > feedback to the user, is that they see when things go wrong (or right). > The output of CPAN.pm is so verbose (by default only?) that it is > impossible for people to understand what is happening.

I have already started working on that. Currently only two options exist for tuning verbosity: cpan[1]> o conf init /verbosity/ When CPAN.pm uses the tar command, which switch for the verbosity shall be used? Choose 'none' for quiet operation, 'v' for file name listing, 'vv' for full listing. <tar_verbosity> Tar command verbosity level (none or v or vv)? [none] When CPAN.pm loads a module it needs for some optional feature, it usually reports about module name and version. Choose 'v' to get this message, 'none' to suppress it. <load_module_verbosity> Verbosity level for loading modules (none or v)? [v] I admit it is not much but it shows where I'm trying to go. Show quoted text

> My request is especially focused on messages like > 'YAML' not installed, falling back to Data::Dumper and Storable to > read prefs '/root/.cpan/prefs'

This example is tough in that it is a very important error message for users of distroprefs. I just checked in a variant that will not bother you with this message if you have no distroprefs configured. Thanks for this suggestion. Show quoted text

> Iff there is a good fallback, then why bother the user with this remark > which is only understandable by Perl die-hards?

It is not a good fallback. It is usually a bad fallback but the best fallback we can provide. People must take extra care in this situation. Better working suggestions welcome. Show quoted text

> My wish: please create an output-log in a file, and only show the user > whether an installation was completed successfully or not, with a pointer > to the (temporary) log.

This will probably be possible in cooperation with CPAN::Reporter. I've openend a separate ticket (http://rt.cpan.org/Ticket/Display.html?id=29941) for this. Thanks, -- andreas

Fri Oct 12 00:01:14 2007 The RT System itself - Status changed from 'new' to 'open'

Fri Oct 12 03:09:33 2007 Mark [...] Overmeer.net - Correspondence added

Subject:	Re: [rt.cpan.org #29863] output too verbose
Date:	Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:07:25 +0200
To:	"(Andreas J. Koenig) via RT" <bug-CPAN [...] rt.cpan.org>
From:	Mark Overmeer <mark [...] overmeer.net>

* (Andreas J. Koenig) via RT (bug-CPAN@rt.cpan.org) [071012 04:01]: Show quoted text

> > I really would like CPAN.pm to be much less verbose.

> > I have already started working on that. Currently only two options > exist for tuning verbosity: > I admit it is not much but it shows where I'm trying to go.

But then, people need to configure their CPAN on each system they maintain... and understand how it works. Why not simply put all about you produce now (as verbose as possible) in a seperated file per installed module... and only show failing tests directly on the screen. Using ftp://ftp.cpan.org Installing Term::ReadLine Failing tests, see ~/.cpan/install-log/Term-ReadLine-0.12.txt Installing CPAN Optional Term::ReadLine not installed Installation failed for Term::ReadLine Installation success for CPAN CPAN improvements possible: run "perl -MCPAN -e hints" Show quoted text

> > My request is especially focused on messages like > > 'YAML' not installed, falling back to Data::Dumper and Storable to > > read prefs '/root/.cpan/prefs'

> I just checked in a variant that will not bother you with this message > if you have no distroprefs configured. Thanks for this suggestion.

great. Show quoted text

> > Iff there is a good fallback, then why bother the user with this remark > > which is only understandable by Perl die-hards?

> > It is not a good fallback. It is usually a bad fallback but the best > fallback we can provide. People must take extra care in this > situation. Better working suggestions welcome.

ok, then I understand. Maybe, the message could be changed into: CPAN preferences need YAML installed; will attempt a workaround Show quoted text

> > My wish: please create an output-log in a file, and only show the user > > whether an installation was completed successfully or not, with a pointer > > to the (temporary) log.

> > This will probably be possible in cooperation with CPAN::Reporter. > I've openend a separate ticket > (http://rt.cpan.org/Ticket/Display.html?id=29941) for this.

Ah... great. I'll try to give an answer, although I do not know how it works on each of the platforms. Don't expect the answer today... -- Regards, MarkOv ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mark Overmeer MSc MARKOV Solutions Mark@Overmeer.net solutions@overmeer.net http://Mark.Overmeer.net http://solutions.overmeer.net

Fri Oct 12 03:35:43 2007 dagolden [...] cpan.org - Correspondence added

Subject:	Re: [rt.cpan.org #29863] output too verbose
Date:	Fri, 12 Oct 2007 03:25:07 -0400
To:	bug-CPAN [...] rt.cpan.org
From:	"David Golden" <dagolden [...] cpan.org>

On 10/12/07, Mark Overmeer via RT <bug-CPAN@rt.cpan.org> wrote: Show quoted text

> > > My wish: please create an output-log in a file, and only show the user > > > whether an installation was completed successfully or not, with a pointer > > > to the (temporary) log.

> > > > This will probably be possible in cooperation with CPAN::Reporter. > > I've openend a separate ticket > > (http://rt.cpan.org/Ticket/Display.html?id=29941) for this.

Note -- there are problems with this if modules prompt for user input during testing. (Annoying, but there's nothing that stops it.)

Fri Oct 12 06:12:31 2007 website [...] craneveer.nl - Correspondence added

Subject:	Re: [rt.cpan.org #29863] output too verbose
Date:	Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:43:55 +0200
To:	via RT <bug-CPAN [...] rt.cpan.org>
From:	Mark Overmeer <website [...] craneveer.nl>

* via RT (bug-CPAN@rt.cpan.org) [071012 07:35]: Show quoted text

> On 10/12/07, Mark Overmeer via RT <bug-CPAN@rt.cpan.org> wrote:

>>>> My wish: please create an output-log in a file, and only show the user >>>> whether an installation was completed successfully or not, with a pointer >>>> to the (temporary) log.

Show quoted text

>>> This will probably be possible in cooperation with CPAN::Reporter. >>> I've openend a separate ticket >>> (http://rt.cpan.org/Ticket/Display.html?id=29941) for this.

Show quoted text

> Note -- there are problems with this if modules prompt for user input > during testing. (Annoying, but there's nothing that stops it.)

I was already aware of that aspect. -- MarkOv