[Haskell-cafe] Hackage feature request: E-mail author when a package breaks

[Nick Bowler]

On 2011-11-01 12:59 +0100, Daniel Díaz Casanueva wrote:
> How about to a new optional Cabal field like "mail-report"? (don't bother
> about this name, I chose it randomly)
> 
> If a build failure happens, or there is some relevant information about
> your package, Hackage will send a mail to the direction specified in that
> field. A field which content will NOT appear in the package page, so
> internet bots can't record so easily your mail direction to send you real
> spam. This is the reason because I write my direction in the "name at
> domine dot com" form (since a while ago), in spite of I would really like
> to receive mails about fails in those packages I maintain.
> 
> Furthermore, since the field would be optional, you still can avoid to
> receive these mails.

Doing anything like this in the .cabal file is a mistake, since there is
no way to change it after uploading.

If your mail address changes, or if you don't want to maintain a package
any more, or if you simply change your mind about receiving status
updates by email, then if this gets hardcoded in the .cabal file you
have no recourse.

Cheers,
-- 
Nick Bowler, Elliptic Technologies (http://www.elliptictech.com/)