newsyslog.conf.5: Add a CAVEAT
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Authored by ziaee on Feb 5 2026, 4:05 AM.

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feld
michaelo

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manpages

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rG17da2d24b7af: newsyslog.conf.5: Add a CAVEAT
rG817f0b88ff3f: newsyslog.conf.5: Add a CAVEAT
rG64e612b46290: newsyslog.conf.5: Add a CAVEAT

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PR: 282639

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rG FreeBSD src repository

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ziaee created this revision.Feb 5 2026, 4:05 AM

Herald added a subscriber: imp. · View Herald TranscriptFeb 5 2026, 4:05 AM

ziaee requested review of this revision.Feb 5 2026, 4:05 AM

Harbormaster completed remote builds in B70426: Diff 171192.Feb 5 2026, 4:05 AM

Stupid question: Should we (then) mention execution order as well?

Should we (then) mention execution order as well?

I don't know, is there anything special about the execution order? I've never had a complicated enough newsyslog setup to run into this problem.

Stupid question:

I don't know that there are stupid questions in multi-generational, international systems engineering. We absolutely must consider corner cases, and we absolutely must make things as obvious as possible. We have no idea who will be working on this next, or under what kind of duress, or which SMEs will get hit by a bus. Therefore, all questions from competent people that seem stupid are highlighting some sort of deficiency in obviousness.

This is also why I am inclined to screaming when competency questions are raised over apparent stupid questions towards people who have earned their stripes. This is a tier 1 planetary system and things need to be made obvious.

In D55122#1260106, @ziaee wrote:

Should we (then) mention execution order as well?

I don't know, is there anything special about the execution order? I've never had a complicated enough newsyslog setup to run into this problem.

Me either, but as far as I can see (I could be wrong) main() builds a list of conf entries and processes them in order. So I think that your change is just fine. Let's wait for the others.

michaelo accepted this revision.Feb 6 2026, 10:06 AM

This revision is now accepted and ready to land.Feb 6 2026, 10:06 AM

Closed by commit rG64e612b46290: newsyslog.conf.5: Add a CAVEAT (authored by ziaee). · Explain WhyFeb 12 2026, 2:15 PM

This revision was automatically updated to reflect the committed changes.

ziaee added a commit: rG64e612b46290: newsyslog.conf.5: Add a CAVEAT.

ziaee added a commit: rG817f0b88ff3f: newsyslog.conf.5: Add a CAVEAT.Feb 16 2026, 12:25 AM

ziaee added a commit: rG17da2d24b7af: newsyslog.conf.5: Add a CAVEAT.Feb 16 2026, 1:05 AM

I know this has been getting stale but I still think it would be worth documenting this foot-gun :-)

edit: oh I thought this review was still open please ignore this noise...