apport

apport-bug [OPTIONS] {PACKAGE|PID|FILE|URL}

-c, --crash=PID
    Report a crash of the specified process ID (PID).

-p, --package=PACKAGE
    Report a bug associated with a specific installed package.

-f, --file=FILENAME
    Report a problem related to a specific file, often a log or configuration file.

-i, --input=REPORT
    Read the problem report from a previously generated report file.

-o, --output=FILE
    Write the generated problem report to a specified file instead of submitting.

-U, --unattended
    Run Apport in unattended mode, suppressing interactive prompts. Use with caution.

-u, --url=URL
    Specify a custom URL for uploading the bug report, overriding default settings.

-s, --ssh
    Upload the report using SSH, typically for restricted access scenarios.

--dry-run
    Perform all actions except the final submission, useful for testing and verification.

--no-browser
    Do not automatically open a web browser after submitting the bug report.

--version
    Display the version information of the Apport utility.

--help
    Show a help message with available options and usage information.

Apport is a software system primarily used in Ubuntu and its derivatives to automatically collect and report detailed information about program crashes and software bugs. When an application crashes, Apport intercepts the event, gathers diagnostic data such as stack traces, core dumps, system logs, and relevant configuration files. This data is then compiled into a comprehensive bug report package.

The system prompts the user to review and submit this report, often directly to a bug tracking system like Launchpad. This automation significantly streamlines the bug reporting process, making it easier for users to contribute to software improvement by providing developers with accurate and complete context without requiring complex manual data collection.

Apport is primarily designed for Ubuntu and its derivatives. It collects extensive system information, including potentially sensitive data; users should review reports before submission. Network connectivity is required for online submission of reports. Disabling Apport might prevent automatic crash reporting.

Apport is not a single command but a suite of tools. It includes a daemon (apport-autoreport) that passively monitors for system crashes, various command-line utilities (like apport-cli, apport-bug, apport-collect, and apport-unpack), and graphical interfaces for user interaction and report review.

When Apport collects data, it gathers a wide range of system information, which can include process lists, installed package details, kernel logs, and potentially snippets from memory or configuration files. Users are always prompted to review the contents of the report before submission, allowing them to redact any sensitive information they do not wish to share.

For users who wish to prevent Apport from automatically collecting and prompting for bug reports, it can be disabled. This is typically done by modifying the configuration file located at /etc/default/apport or /etc/apport/settings and setting 'enabled=0' or similar options.

Apport was developed by Martin Pitt for Ubuntu, first appearing around Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy Eft) in 2006. Its creation aimed to significantly improve the quality and detail of bug reports submitted by users, thereby streamlining the development and bug-fixing process for Ubuntu developers. By automating the collection of complex diagnostic data like stack traces and system logs, Apport eliminated the need for users to manually gather such information, making bug reporting accessible to a wider audience. It has since become an integral part of Ubuntu's quality assurance infrastructure, deeply integrated with services like Launchpad for efficient bug tracking and resolution.

whoopsie(8), gdb(1), dmesg(1), journalctl(1)