Misleading meaning of "completely removed"

[clubsoda]

Binary package hint: synaptic

When completely removing a package, the confirmation window offers to do the following:-
"To be completely removed (including configuration files)".
However, in many (most?) cases, the configuration information which the user wishes to remove is hidden under the /home directory and won't be touched by Synaptic.

Perhaps it is an unfortunate symptom of having used Windows® for years that when all else fails, reinstall! For example, after tweaking some settings an application ceases to function in some important way and is broken. What is the user to do, start searching through the hidden "dot" files in their home directory and start removing files manually? I'm told that package managers, as a matter of principle, must not touch users' personal settings, in which case my complaint raises a separate issue.

That said, I think Synaptic falls short of the expectation as far as removing configuration files, and that the confirmation window could help steer people in the right direction if reworded slightly, such as:-
"To be completely removed (including system-wide configuration files)"
or even better:-
"To be completely removed (excluding personal configuration files)".

Regards.

[This report refers to Synaptic 0.61ububtu9 on Xubuntu Hardy].

PS: On a side note, it is not clear whether "reinstallation" involves a simple "removal" or a "complete removal", so I end up not using that feature at all.

[Ameen Demidem (ameen.demidem)]

I guess this would apply to any version of Synaptic.
Actually, it's an interesting point as the message is slightly confusing as you say and the fix should be easy.
I'd suggest to put it into the wish list.

[Charlie Kravetz (cjkgeek)]

Thanks for reporting this bug and any supporting documentation. Since this bug has enough information provided for a developer to begin work, I'm going to mark it as confirmed and let them handle it from here. Thanks for taking the time to make Ubuntu better!