Integrate Sentry.IO Error Reporting (or alternatively, non-automated 'upload error' button)

[shasheene]

Sentry.IO provides a free web-interface and SDK to detect when Python exceptions happen.

The official Ubuntu repository has the python3-sentry-sdk package already present.

The error reports will help quickly learn about issues like #352.

Related: I need to write a privacy document #340, because automated error reporting using Sentry.IO's open-source SDK is still a change to Rescuezilla privacy.

Feel free to post below if you feel strongly against integrating "Sentry.IO" automated error reporting. I think it provides a good balance of improved Rescuezilla stability vs privacy.

[CryptGoat]

I understand the desire for more data to get a quick grip to identify and fix problems of Rescuezilla but I feel strongly negative about automated error reporting. Many Linux distributions and also Rescuezilla are highly regarded and widely used by users who value their privacy. Pretty much no Linux distribution does send data about the system by default and if they did at some point it always backfired big in their respective community. Not even Apport in Ubuntu does send crash reports by itself. Also, Sentry is third party US based company. Not sure if I want them to handle my system data (yes, I know Sentry is widely used and I'm writing this on MS owned GitHub right now).

Distribute Rescuezilla for Backup purposes on USB flash drives at privacy events and there's no way I include this if it sends data about the user's device by default. If you still decide to include error reporting please make it at-least entirely opt-in and make that choice and the info sent as transparent as possible. Selfhosting the sentry server should also be considered.

Also, if you still plan to include this it might be better to spent some time thinking about this and – if still deemed necessary – integrate it with the next major release instead of a release which was originally ment to fix some major bugs? Really looking forward to that version 2.4.1... 😉

[shasheene]

Yep, good argument for not including it in v2.4.1.

And also good argument against enabled by default in Rescuezilla.

What about a checkbox on the initial "Welcome" page of Rescuezilla that reads something like "Automatically upload error details"? It could be left unticked by default. Then users having trouble would have to decide to go back and tick the box and reproduce the error. Still an improvement on what I currently have.

Another approach is a button or checkbox on the error message box that uploads the details. That would work, but it won't catch the places that don't currently generate an error box.