It would be nice if it were possible to generate a ChangeLog
for tarball distribution by including "darcs changes > ChangeLog" in the
predist pref.  This is not currently possible:

ajk@kukkaseppele:~/src/darcs-monitor$ darcs setpref predist "darcs changes > ChangeLog"
Changing value of predist from '' to 'darcs changes > ChangeLog'
ajk@kukkaseppele:~/src/darcs-monitor$ darcs dist

darcs failed:  Not a repository
Created dist as /home/ajk/src/darcs-monitor/darcs-monitor.tar.gz
ajk@kukkaseppele:~/src/darcs-monitor$

There is a related upstream bug report asking for the ability to
have darcs dist generate a manifest; I cannot currently look it up as
bugs.darcs.net is not responding for me.  However, the upstream report
suggests a workaround which does not appeal to me, as it requires the
tarball generating human to do something more than just "darcs dist".

The upstream report logs include the suggestion of having darcs dist export
the repository path in the predist command's environment.  I find that a
good idea.

Below is a bug report from a Debian user.  The associated Debian BTS
ticket is http://bugs.debian.org/440345.  Please ensure that
440345@bugs.debian.org remains in the nosy list for this roundup
ticket.

Eric Kow <eric.kow@gmail.com> added the comment:

I think there may be a more general issue here with wanting to include stuff in
darcs dist that isn't strictly speaking in the darcs repository.

Seems like such a feature would be a useful (the more general one), but we would
have to work out a reasonable user interface to it.  The reason we would want to
push for more general ideas is to avoid an explosion of switches and options.

----------
nosy: +kowey
priority:  -> wishlist
status: unread -> chatting
title: Wish for auto-generated "darcs changes >ChangeLog" in darcs dist -> wish: auto-generated "darcs changes >ChangeLog" in darcs dist

Doesn't seem to me like any new switches or options are required for
this feature.