[Bug 1888061] [NEW] "Line by line difference" of config files during release upgrade is an unreadable mess

[teo1978]

Public bug reported:

I upgraded from 16.04 to 18.04, then to 19.10, then to 20.04.

I'm not sure ini whih of the upgrades I noticed the issue but I'm pretty
sure it applies to all of them.

As usual, the upgrade had to install some configuration files which
would replace some files I had modified, and so I got the prompt to
choose what to do: whether to keep my modified version, or overwrite it
with the packager's version.

I don't remember the exact interface, but when you are prompted to
choose that, you have a few options to see the differences between the
two files. I think by default it shows a classical diff (with "+++"s and
"---"s) but there is an option to show "line by line differences".

I chose that for one file, and I expected to see a side-by-side diff
similar to those I've seen in dozens of tools, where you see the two
entire files side by side and the differences are highlighted in both
sides in colors, such as lines that are added or removed and lines that
are modified.

Short of that, the very least that I would have expected was to show the
two files side by side.


Instead, this PATHETIC CRAP showed up which can be seen in the sceenshot.
And don't remind me of the code of conduct. I'm not insulting anybody. It's a FACT that this is crap and that it is pathetic.


Not only are DIFFERENCES not shown (line by line or otherwise). The two files are shown as one single text file, where each line of the second file is just appended to the corresponding line of the first file.
You can't even tell where the line of one file begins and the line of the other ends.

It's a completely useless way to show "differences" between two files.
It's less useful than just showing the two files next to each other in
two independent text boxes. Way less useful. Let alone compared to an
actual side-by-side diff tool (and there are plenty to chose from).

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: apt 2.0.2ubuntu0.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.4.0-40.44-generic 5.4.44
Uname: Linux 5.4.0-40-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.3
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CurrentDesktop: X-Cinnamon
Date: Sat Jul 18 17:30:36 2020
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-10-11 (2471 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release amd64 (20130424)
SourcePackage: apt
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to focal on 2020-07-12 (5 days ago)

** Affects: apt (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: amd64 apport-bug focal third-party-packages

** Attachment added: "Screenshot from 2020-07-11 17-25-59.png"
   https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1888061/+attachment/5393794/+files/Screenshot%20from%202020-07-11%2017-25-59.png

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1888061

Title:
  "Line by line difference" of config files during release upgrade is an
  unreadable mess

Status in apt package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  I upgraded from 16.04 to 18.04, then to 19.10, then to 20.04.

  I'm not sure ini whih of the upgrades I noticed the issue but I'm
  pretty sure it applies to all of them.

  As usual, the upgrade had to install some configuration files which
  would replace some files I had modified, and so I got the prompt to
  choose what to do: whether to keep my modified version, or overwrite
  it with the packager's version.

  I don't remember the exact interface, but when you are prompted to
  choose that, you have a few options to see the differences between the
  two files. I think by default it shows a classical diff (with "+++"s
  and "---"s) but there is an option to show "line by line differences".

  I chose that for one file, and I expected to see a side-by-side diff
  similar to those I've seen in dozens of tools, where you see the two
  entire files side by side and the differences are highlighted in both
  sides in colors, such as lines that are added or removed and lines
  that are modified.

  Short of that, the very least that I would have expected was to show
  the two files side by side.

  
  Instead, this PATHETIC CRAP showed up which can be seen in the sceenshot.
  And don't remind me of the code of conduct. I'm not insulting anybody. It's a FACT that this is crap and that it is pathetic.

  
  Not only are DIFFERENCES not shown (line by line or otherwise). The two files are shown as one single text file, where each line of the second file is just appended to the corresponding line of the first file.
  You can't even tell where the line of one file begins and the line of the other ends.

  It's a completely useless way to show "differences" between two files.
  It's less useful than just showing the two files next to each other in
  two independent text boxes. Way less useful. Let alone compared to an
  actual side-by-side diff tool (and there are plenty to chose from).

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
  Package: apt 2.0.2ubuntu0.1
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.4.0-40.44-generic 5.4.44
  Uname: Linux 5.4.0-40-generic x86_64
  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
  ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.3
  Architecture: amd64
  CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
  CurrentDesktop: X-Cinnamon
  Date: Sat Jul 18 17:30:36 2020
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-10-11 (2471 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release amd64 (20130424)
  SourcePackage: apt
  UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to focal on 2020-07-12 (5 days ago)

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