Comment 0 for bug 1357034

 $ ipython3
Python 3.4.0 (default, Apr 11 2014, 13:05:11)
Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

IPython 1.2.1 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.
? -> Introduction and overview of IPython's features.
%quickref -> Quick reference.
help -> Python's own help system.
object? -> Details about 'object', use 'object??' for extra details.

In [1]: from DistUpgrade import DistUpgradeApport

In [2]: DistUpgradeApport.apport_pkgfailure("whoopsie", "it failed")
WARNING:root:Failed to run apport ('str' does not support the buffer interface)
Out[2]: False

I've seen the same error message in some distribution upgrade failures e.g. bug 1350416.

2014-07-30 09:15:35,305 DEBUG running apport_pkgfailure() cgmanager: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
2014-07-30 09:15:36,352 WARNING Failed to run apport ('str' does not support the buffer interface)

This has to do with the log files DistUpgradeApport is adding to the bug report.