[bug#43361] [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description

[bug#43361] [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description

[Julien Lepiller]

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Hi Guix,

this patch is a small change to the manual that should help at least
one confused user from
https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/550597/what-is-the-file-to-be-specified-in-guix-system-reconfigure

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From dfa9439efbf1de7ffe281dac330a19c1e369e5d8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu>
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2020 21:46:57 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description

* doc/guix.texi (Invoking guix system): Mention `/etc/config.scm' in the
description of guix system reconfigure.
---
 doc/guix.texi | 8 ++++----
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index a6e14ea177..c10387441e 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -28919,10 +28919,10 @@ As for @command{guix package --search}, the result is written in
 (@pxref{Top, GNU recutils databases,, recutils, GNU recutils manual}).
 
 @item reconfigure
-Build the operating system described in @var{file}, activate it, and
-switch to it@footnote{This action (and the related actions
-@code{switch-generation} and @code{roll-back}) are usable only on
-systems already running Guix System.}.
+Build the operating system described in @var{file} (typically
+@file{/etc/config.scm}), activate it, and switch to it@footnote{This action
+(and the related actions @code{switch-generation} and @code{roll-back}) are
+usable only on systems already running Guix System.}.
 
 @quotation Note
 @c The paragraph below refers to the problem discussed at
-- 
2.28.0

[bug#43361] [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description

[Andreas Enge]

Hello,

On Sat, Sep 12, 2020 at 09:48:52PM +0200, Julien Lepiller wrote:
>  @item reconfigure
> -Build the operating system described in @var{file}, activate it, and
> -switch to it@footnote{This action (and the related actions
> -@code{switch-generation} and @code{roll-back}) are usable only on
> -systems already running Guix System.}.
> +Build the operating system described in @var{file} (typically
> +@file{/etc/config.scm}), activate it, and switch to it@footnote{This action
> +(and the related actions @code{switch-generation} and @code{roll-back}) are
> +usable only on systems already running Guix System.}.

to be honest, I find it less clear than before - it now almost sounds as if
providing the file were optional, and that the command might search it
as /etc/config.scm.

Andreas

[bug#43361] [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description

[Ludovic Courtès]

Hi,

Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu> skribis:

> this patch is a small change to the manual that should help at least
> one confused user from
> https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/550597/what-is-the-file-to-be-specified-in-guix-system-reconfigure
>
>>From dfa9439efbf1de7ffe281dac330a19c1e369e5d8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
> From: Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu>
> Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2020 21:46:57 +0200
> Subject: [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description
>
> * doc/guix.texi (Invoking guix system): Mention `/etc/config.scm' in the
> description of guix system reconfigure.
> ---
>  doc/guix.texi | 8 ++++----
>  1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
> index a6e14ea177..c10387441e 100644
> --- a/doc/guix.texi
> +++ b/doc/guix.texi
> @@ -28919,10 +28919,10 @@ As for @command{guix package --search}, the result is written in
>  (@pxref{Top, GNU recutils databases,, recutils, GNU recutils manual}).
>  
>  @item reconfigure
> -Build the operating system described in @var{file}, activate it, and
> -switch to it@footnote{This action (and the related actions
> -@code{switch-generation} and @code{roll-back}) are usable only on
> -systems already running Guix System.}.
> +Build the operating system described in @var{file} (typically
> +@file{/etc/config.scm}), activate it, and switch to it@footnote{This action
> +(and the related actions @code{switch-generation} and @code{roll-back}) are
> +usable only on systems already running Guix System.}.

Perhaps “(typically @file{/etc/config.scm})” should go next to
“@var{file} must be …”?

But if the person doesn’t read more than a few lines of the page, it
won’t help.

I was thinking we could have “guix system reconfigure” without arguments
pick up /run/current-system/configuration.scm.  Perhaps that’d help?

Thanks,
Ludo’.

[bug#43361] [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description

[Julien Lepiller]

Le 13 septembre 2020 17:10:30 GMT-04:00, "Ludovic Courtès" <ludo@gnu.org> a écrit :
>Hi,
>
>Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu> skribis:
>
>> this patch is a small change to the manual that should help at least
>> one confused user from
>>
>https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/550597/what-is-the-file-to-be-specified-in-guix-system-reconfigure
>>
>>>From dfa9439efbf1de7ffe281dac330a19c1e369e5d8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00
>2001
>> From: Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu>
>> Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2020 21:46:57 +0200
>> Subject: [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description
>>
>> * doc/guix.texi (Invoking guix system): Mention `/etc/config.scm' in
>the
>> description of guix system reconfigure.
>> ---
>>  doc/guix.texi | 8 ++++----
>>  1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)
>>
>> diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
>> index a6e14ea177..c10387441e 100644
>> --- a/doc/guix.texi
>> +++ b/doc/guix.texi
>> @@ -28919,10 +28919,10 @@ As for @command{guix package --search}, the
>result is written in
>>  (@pxref{Top, GNU recutils databases,, recutils, GNU recutils
>manual}).
>>  
>>  @item reconfigure
>> -Build the operating system described in @var{file}, activate it, and
>> -switch to it@footnote{This action (and the related actions
>> -@code{switch-generation} and @code{roll-back}) are usable only on
>> -systems already running Guix System.}.
>> +Build the operating system described in @var{file} (typically
>> +@file{/etc/config.scm}), activate it, and switch to it@footnote{This
>action
>> +(and the related actions @code{switch-generation} and
>@code{roll-back}) are
>> +usable only on systems already running Guix System.}.
>
>Perhaps “(typically @file{/etc/config.scm})” should go next to
>“@var{file} must be …”?
>
>But if the person doesn’t read more than a few lines of the page, it
>won’t help.
>
>I was thinking we could have “guix system reconfigure” without
>arguments
>pick up /run/current-system/configuration.scm.  Perhaps that’d help?

I think it would be even more confusing, because that file isn't even editable. So you'de get users thinking they must re-install the distro to change that file.

Others would eventually find /etc/config.scm and not pass it as argument, then get their system reconfigured to something different than what they specified.

Maybe it should be "e.g. /etc/config, initially generated by the graphical installer" or something?

>
>Thanks,
>Ludo’.

[bug#43361] [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description

[Ludovic Courtès]

Hi,

Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu> skribis:

> Le 13 septembre 2020 17:10:30 GMT-04:00, "Ludovic Courtès" <ludo@gnu.org> a écrit :
>>Hi,
>>
>>Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu> skribis:
>>
>>> this patch is a small change to the manual that should help at least
>>> one confused user from
>>>
>>https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/550597/what-is-the-file-to-be-specified-in-guix-system-reconfigure
>>>
>>>>From dfa9439efbf1de7ffe281dac330a19c1e369e5d8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00
>>2001
>>> From: Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu>
>>> Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2020 21:46:57 +0200
>>> Subject: [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description
>>>
>>> * doc/guix.texi (Invoking guix system): Mention `/etc/config.scm' in
>>the
>>> description of guix system reconfigure.
>>> ---
>>>  doc/guix.texi | 8 ++++----
>>>  1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)
>>>
>>> diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
>>> index a6e14ea177..c10387441e 100644
>>> --- a/doc/guix.texi
>>> +++ b/doc/guix.texi
>>> @@ -28919,10 +28919,10 @@ As for @command{guix package --search}, the
>>result is written in
>>>  (@pxref{Top, GNU recutils databases,, recutils, GNU recutils
>>manual}).
>>>  
>>>  @item reconfigure
>>> -Build the operating system described in @var{file}, activate it, and
>>> -switch to it@footnote{This action (and the related actions
>>> -@code{switch-generation} and @code{roll-back}) are usable only on
>>> -systems already running Guix System.}.
>>> +Build the operating system described in @var{file} (typically
>>> +@file{/etc/config.scm}), activate it, and switch to it@footnote{This
>>action
>>> +(and the related actions @code{switch-generation} and
>>@code{roll-back}) are
>>> +usable only on systems already running Guix System.}.
>>
>>Perhaps “(typically @file{/etc/config.scm})” should go next to
>>“@var{file} must be …”?
>>
>>But if the person doesn’t read more than a few lines of the page, it
>>won’t help.
>>
>>I was thinking we could have “guix system reconfigure” without
>>arguments
>>pick up /run/current-system/configuration.scm.  Perhaps that’d help?
>
> I think it would be even more confusing, because that file isn't even editable. So you'de get users thinking they must re-install the distro to change that file.

I mean you could still pass a file as an argument, but if you don’t,
it’d pick that one.

> Others would eventually find /etc/config.scm and not pass it as argument, then get their system reconfigured to something different than what they specified.
>
> Maybe it should be "e.g. /etc/config, initially generated by the graphical installer" or something?

I think “typically /etc/config.scm” is enough (and more accurate),
dunno.

Ludo’.

[bug#43361] [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description

[zimoun]

Hi,

On Sat, 12 Sep 2020 at 21:48, Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu> wrote:

> this patch is a small change to the manual that should help at least
> one confused user from
> https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/550597/what-is-the-file-to-be-specified-in-guix-system-reconfigure

What is the status of this patch?

<http://issues.guix.gnu.org/issue/43361>

Thanks,
simon

[bug#43361] [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description

[zimoun]

Hi,

This patch [1] is about a tiny tweak of the doc to add a mention of
/etc/config.scm.  I do not know if the consensus is reached.

1: <http://issues.guix.gnu.org/issue/43361>

On Mon, 14 Sep 2020 at 09:25, Ludovic Courtès <ludo@gnu.org> wrote:
> Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu> skribis:
>> Le 13 septembre 2020 17:10:30 GMT-04:00, "Ludovic Courtès" <ludo@gnu.org> a
>> écrit :
>>>Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu> skribis:
>>>
>>>> this patch is a small change to the manual that should help at least
>>>> one confused user from
>>>>
>>>https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/550597/what-is-the-file-to-be-specified-in-guix-system-reconfigure
>>>>
>>>>>>From dfa9439efbf1de7ffe281dac330a19c1e369e5d8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00
>>>2001
>>>> From: Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu>
>>>> Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2020 21:46:57 +0200
>>>> Subject: [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description
>>>>
>>>> * doc/guix.texi (Invoking guix system): Mention `/etc/config.scm' in
>>>the
>>>> description of guix system reconfigure.
>>>> ---
>>>>  doc/guix.texi | 8 ++++----
>>>>  1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)
>>>>
>>>> diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
>>>> index a6e14ea177..c10387441e 100644
>>>> --- a/doc/guix.texi
>>>> +++ b/doc/guix.texi
>>>> @@ -28919,10 +28919,10 @@ As for @command{guix package --search}, the
>>>result is written in
>>>>  (@pxref{Top, GNU recutils databases,, recutils, GNU recutils
>>>manual}).
>>>>
>>>>  @item reconfigure
>>>> -Build the operating system described in @var{file}, activate it, and
>>>> -switch to it@footnote{This action (and the related actions
>>>> -@code{switch-generation} and @code{roll-back}) are usable only on
>>>> -systems already running Guix System.}.
>>>> +Build the operating system described in @var{file} (typically
>>>> +@file{/etc/config.scm}), activate it, and switch to it@footnote{This
>>>action
>>>> +(and the related actions @code{switch-generation} and
>>>@code{roll-back}) are
>>>> +usable only on systems already running Guix System.}.
>>>
>>>Perhaps “(typically @file{/etc/config.scm})” should go next to
>>>“@var{file} must be …”?
>>>
>>>But if the person doesn’t read more than a few lines of the page, it
>>>won’t help.
>>>
>>>I was thinking we could have “guix system reconfigure” without
>>>arguments
>>>pick up /run/current-system/configuration.scm.  Perhaps that’d help?
>>
>> I think it would be even more confusing, because that file isn't even
>> editable. So you'de get users thinking they must re-install the distro to
>> change that file.
>
> I mean you could still pass a file as an argument, but if you don’t,
> it’d pick that one.
>
>> Others would eventually find /etc/config.scm and not pass it as argument,
>> then get their system reconfigured to something different than what they
>> specified.
>>
>> Maybe it should be "e.g. /etc/config, initially generated by the graphical
>> installer" or something?
>
> I think “typically /etc/config.scm” is enough (and more accurate),
> dunno.

Personally, I find both equal.  Maybe it is worth the apply the patch.
Since it is the doc, if it appears unclear from feedback, let then
improve.  WDYT?

Cheers,
simon

[bug#43361] [PATCH] doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description

[zimoun]

Hi,

On Sat, 12 Sep 2020 at 21:48, Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu> wrote:

> this patch is a small change to the manual that should help at least
> one confused user from
> https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/550597/what-is-the-file-to-be-specified-in-guix-system-reconfigure

This patch#43361 [1] from one year ago does not make consensus, IIRC.
What is its current status?  What could be the next actionable step?  Do
we close it?

Cheers,
simon

1: <http://issues.guix.gnu.org/issue/43361>

bug#43361: doc: Mention config.scm in reconfigure description

[Julien Lepiller]

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Closing since we can't come up with a consensus :)

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