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querybts(1) General Commands Manual querybts(1)


querybts - view outstanding bug reports on a debbugs server




querybts is designed to provide a convenient and easy-to-use interface to the Debbugs bug tracking system, as used by Debian and several other projects. You can specify a package name or one or more report numbers.


-h, --help
Show summary of options.
Show the version of querybts and exit.
-A, --archive
Browse archived bugs instead of current reports. Debbugs servers clear out closed reports after 28 days and place them in a separate archive; this option allows those older, resolved reports to be viewed (at least for servers that maintain an archive).
Instead of the Debian bug server, use the server specified by SYSTEM. Valid options are default and debian but check --help for an updated list.
-b, --buglist
Display a bugs list for the given package.
-m, --mbox
Retrieve the given bug number(s) or package name(s) as a mailbox file, instead of viewing it. It will be dumped to standard output.
--proxy=PROXY, --http_proxy=PROXY
Specify the WWW proxy server to use to handle the queries to the bug tracking system. You should only need this parameter if you are behind a firewall.
-s, --source
Query on source packages, rather than binary packages.


Specify the user interface to use. Valid options are text, urwid, gtk; default is taken from the reportbug configuration files.
-w, --web
Launch a web browser to view bug reports, instead of using the internal interface. This will also allow you to see the whole discussion about a particular bug at once, instead of one message at a time as querybts would do. (Only the first bug number on the command line will be opened.)





Generally, options corresponding to the long options for querybts are supported, without leading -- sequences. See the default /etc/reportbug.conf for all acceptable options and reportbug.conf(5) for all acceptable options and detailed information.

Options only supported by reportbug will be silently ignored.




reportbug(1), reportbug.conf(5)


Chris Lawrence <>, Sandro Tosi <>.