[Bug 1917148] Re: ps version is UNKNOWN in procps 2:3.3.16-1ubuntu2

[Eric Desrochers]

[sts-sponsors]

Sponsored in Focal upload queue, now waiting for SRU verification team
approval.

Thanks for your contribution, Kellen.

Test case validation (before upload):
----
root at procpsf:/tmp# pgrep --version
pgrep from procps-ng 3.3.16

root at procpsf:/tmp# ps --version
ps from procps-ng 3.3.16

root at procpsf:/tmp# free --version
free from procps-ng 3.3.16
----

- Eric

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to procps in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1917148

Title:
  ps version is UNKNOWN in procps 2:3.3.16-1ubuntu2

Status in procps package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in procps source package in Bionic:
  Fix Released
Status in procps source package in Focal:
  In Progress
Status in procps source package in Hirsute:
  Fix Released
Status in procps source package in Impish:
  Fix Released

Bug description:
  [Impact]

   * Breakage of tools expecting the version number or the number to substantially match the Debian package version.
   * May confuse users expecting the version to substantially match the Debian package version.
   * Restores behavior to that provided in Groovy/Hirsute+ and Bionic and prior releases.
     - Focal is the only release affected.
   * Backported Debian fix to restore ".tarball-version" file to provide version information during build.
     - Also included the autopkgtests for versioning from the same Debian fix.

  [Test Plan]

   1) Create a Focal (or derived from Focal) system.
   2) Execute "ps --version" or any of the binaries provided by the package with their respective version flags.
   3) Instead of desired output of the version, the output is:
      the invoked binary name followed by "from procps-ng UNKNOWN"
      Example: "ps from procps-ng UNKNOWN"

  [Where problems could occur]

   * This fix could cause issues if applications have come to depend on the incorrect behavior. IE, an application that uses a version string of "UNKNOWN" as part of a heuristic for identifying a Focal system.
   * If the version of procps-ng is incremented, this patch would need to be updated or removed if it is no longer relevant. Otherwise, an incorrect version would be reported by the binaries.

  [Other Info]
   * This change is in Groovy+ and Debian packaging with the same version of procps-ng.
     - Introduced in procps (2:3.3.16-5) unstable in Debian.

  [Original Description]

  From Linux Lint 20.1, so Focal Fossa 20.04.1

  Package procps 2:3.3.16-1ubuntu2

  $ LANG=C ps --version
  ps from procps-ng UNKNOWN

  I don't know if it comes from Ubuntu or upstream.

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/procps/+bug/1917148/+subscriptions