We just now (5 minutes ago on IRC) decided to introduce ChangeLog files for every package, to be manually updated by the developer. IMHO they conflict with cvs logs. Each has its own strengths. For example the cvs logs are more detailed (they record every commit, including small bugfixes etc. that aren't mentioned in the changelog). They are also present in gentoo-cvs, which is very comfortable. On theother hand changelogs are a good way to check when the package was last updated, what major issues have been resolved etc., epsecially for a user who doesn't have cvs access and can't use csv log. Since duplicating most cvs log contents into the changelogs is tedious, we should look at ways to partially automatize the process, or figure out a better relationship between the two. I know server-side cvs can be configured to automatically create ChangeLog files from cvs logs, but no one on IRC seemed to know how, or to want to find out, and I'm no cvs expert myself.
I just ran the cvs2cl.pl file (http://www.red-bean.com/cvs2cl/) in dev-lang/python, and the result is exactly what one would want. I think. http://red.ces.clemson.edu/ChangeLog.python
Bevin and the rest on #gentoodev seem decided that the contents of changelogs (geared towards users) shuold be different and separate from the contents of the cvs logs (for devs). So this shuold probably be closed. On the cvs2cl site though I found a link to the csv2html site, which resorts the logs by file rather than by commit, which is a lot more suitable. so if this ever leads to something, I think that's the way to go. http://cvs.sslug.dk/cvs2html/example1/utils.html
