From mboxrd@z Thu Jan  1 00:00:00 1970
From: Mark H Weaver <mhw@netris.org>
Subject: bug#22572: Handling of system 'locale' field needs improvement
Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2016 09:22:14 -0500
Message-ID: <87k2mhudex.fsf@netris.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Return-path: <bug-guix-bounces+gcggb-bug-guix=m.gmane.org@gnu.org>
Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:4830:134:3::10]:43827)
	by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71)
	(envelope-from <Debian-debbugs@debbugs.gnu.org>) id 1aS3lR-0007ID-JA
	for bug-guix@gnu.org; Sat, 06 Feb 2016 09:23:06 -0500
Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71)
	(envelope-from <Debian-debbugs@debbugs.gnu.org>) id 1aS3lO-0005qB-AF
	for bug-guix@gnu.org; Sat, 06 Feb 2016 09:23:05 -0500
Received: from debbugs.gnu.org ([208.118.235.43]:54848)
	by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71)
	(envelope-from <Debian-debbugs@debbugs.gnu.org>) id 1aS3lO-0005q7-7b
	for bug-guix@gnu.org; Sat, 06 Feb 2016 09:23:02 -0500
Received: from Debian-debbugs by debbugs.gnu.org with local (Exim 4.84)
	(envelope-from <Debian-debbugs@debbugs.gnu.org>) id 1aS3lO-0002VB-0C
	for bug-guix@gnu.org; Sat, 06 Feb 2016 09:23:02 -0500
Sender: "Debbugs-submit" <debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org>
Resent-Message-ID: <handler.22572.B.14547685539566@debbugs.gnu.org>
Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:4830:134:3::10]:43745)
	by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71)
	(envelope-from <mhw@netris.org>) id 1aS3kn-000778-8Q
	for bug-guix@gnu.org; Sat, 06 Feb 2016 09:22:26 -0500
Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71)
	(envelope-from <mhw@netris.org>) id 1aS3kj-0005HY-W3
	for bug-guix@gnu.org; Sat, 06 Feb 2016 09:22:25 -0500
Received: from world.peace.net ([50.252.239.5]:44525)
	by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71)
	(envelope-from <mhw@netris.org>) id 1aS3kj-0005H4-ST
	for bug-guix@gnu.org; Sat, 06 Feb 2016 09:22:21 -0500
List-Id: Bug reports for GNU Guix <bug-guix.gnu.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/options/bug-guix>,
	<mailto:bug-guix-request@gnu.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive: <http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-guix>
List-Post: <mailto:bug-guix@gnu.org>
List-Help: <mailto:bug-guix-request@gnu.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe: <https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/bug-guix>,
	<mailto:bug-guix-request@gnu.org?subject=subscribe>
Errors-To: bug-guix-bounces+gcggb-bug-guix=m.gmane.org@gnu.org
Sender: bug-guix-bounces+gcggb-bug-guix=m.gmane.org@gnu.org
To: 22572@debbugs.gnu.org

Multiple users on #guix have been bitten by the following error message:

  guix system: error: system locale lacks a definition

and even several seasoned developers on #guix didn't know the answer.

At minimum, the error message should be improved to point to the
relevant documentation.

Better yet, the value of the 'locale' field should be automatically
added to the default value of 'locale-definitions' if it's not already
there.  The overwhelming majority of users set their 'locale' and have
no interest in 'locale-definitions'.

    Regards,
      Mark