Have load_config() and write_(min_)config() return messages

Hardcoding load_config() and write_(min_)config() to write any message
to stdout is awkward, because it means that the message can't be easily
reused when stdout is the wrong place to write it to (e.g. in
menuconfig/guiconfig). This gets extra bad now that there's also the "No
change to ..." message.

Modify load_config() and write_(min_)config() to return the message as a
string instead, and have them always return a message, instead of just
when 'filename' is None and verbose=True. This makes things flexible and
straightforward.

Use the new behavior in menuconfig.py and guiconfig.py. They now show
"No change to ..." when saving a file doesn't modify it.

Tools that want to write messages to stdout should now do
print(kconf.load_config()) / print(kconf.write_config()).

There's no clean way to preserve perfect backwards compatibility here,
but keep accepting the 'verbose' argument and print a deprecation
warning if a value is ever passed for it. That way, scripts will keep
running, though possibly with less output on stdout.

This changes the meaning of the load_config() return value as well,
though I suspect it was only ever used by the menuconfig/guiconfig
interfaces.

The new behavior applies for kconfiglib.VERSION >= (12, 0, 0).

18 files changed, 226 insertions, 166 deletions

diff --git a/alldefconfig.py b/alldefconfig.py
index a24f07a..5082fcb 100755
--- a/alldefconfig.py
+++ b/alldefconfig.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import kconfiglib
 def main():
     kconf = kconfiglib.standard_kconfig()
     kconfiglib.load_allconfig(kconf, "alldef.config")
-    kconf.write_config()
+    print(kconf.write_config())
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/allmodconfig.py b/allmodconfig.py
index 990cddf..add16a8 100755
--- a/allmodconfig.py
+++ b/allmodconfig.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def main():
 
     kconfiglib.load_allconfig(kconf, "allmod.config")
 
-    kconf.write_config()
+    print(kconf.write_config())
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/allnoconfig.py b/allnoconfig.py
index 7d81906..a0afd78 100755
--- a/allnoconfig.py
+++ b/allnoconfig.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def main():
 
     kconfiglib.load_allconfig(kconf, "allno.config")
 
-    kconf.write_config()
+    print(kconf.write_config())
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/allyesconfig.py b/allyesconfig.py
index 3f576fa..45231bc 100755
--- a/allyesconfig.py
+++ b/allyesconfig.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def main():
 
     kconfiglib.load_allconfig(kconf, "allyes.config")
 
-    kconf.write_config()
+    print(kconf.write_config())
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/defconfig.py b/defconfig.py
index 7b02833..d1b1e4e 100755
--- a/defconfig.py
+++ b/defconfig.py
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ def main():
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     kconf = kconfiglib.Kconfig(args.kconfig)
-    kconf.load_config(args.config)
-    kconf.write_config()
+    print(kconf.load_config(args.config))
+    print(kconf.write_config())
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/examples/allnoconfig_walk.py b/examples/allnoconfig_walk.py
index 24b2828..5a8cc23 100644
--- a/examples/allnoconfig_walk.py
+++ b/examples/allnoconfig_walk.py
@@ -63,4 +63,4 @@ while True:
     if not changed:
         break
 
-kconf.write_config()
+print(kconf.write_config())
diff --git a/examples/defconfig_oldconfig.py b/examples/defconfig_oldconfig.py
index 98f97a0..68336c6 100644
--- a/examples/defconfig_oldconfig.py
+++ b/examples/defconfig_oldconfig.py
@@ -36,4 +36,4 @@ for s in kconf.unique_defined_syms:
         s.set_value(0)
 
 # Write the final configuration
-kconf.write_config()
+print(kconf.write_config())
diff --git a/examples/menuconfig_example.py b/examples/menuconfig_example.py
index 4e2560d..b265e69 100644..100755
--- a/examples/menuconfig_example.py
+++ b/examples/menuconfig_example.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
 # Implements a simple configuration interface on top of Kconfiglib to
 # demonstrate concepts for building a menuconfig-like. Emulates how the
 # standard menuconfig prints menu entries.
@@ -117,6 +119,7 @@
 #
 #   Enter a symbol/choice name, "load_config", or "write_config" (or press CTRL+D to exit): ^D
 
+from __future__ import print_function
 import readline
 import sys
 
@@ -300,27 +303,22 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
         if cmd == "load_config":
             config_filename = input(".config file to load: ")
-
             try:
-                kconf.load_config(config_filename)
+                # Returns a message telling which file got loaded
+                print(kconf.load_config(config_filename))
             except IOError as e:
-                # Print the (spammy) error from Kconfiglib itself
-                print(e.message + "\n")
-            else:
-                print("Configuration loaded from " + config_filename)
+                print(e, file=sys.stderr)
 
             print_menuconfig(kconf)
             continue
 
         if cmd == "write_config":
             config_filename = input("To this file: ")
-
             try:
-                kconf.write_config(config_filename)
+                # Returns a message telling which file got saved
+                print(kconf.write_config(config_filename))
             except IOError as e:
-                print(e.message)
-            else:
-                print("Configuration written to " + config_filename)
+                print(e, file=sys.stderr)
 
             continue
 
@@ -340,5 +338,5 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
             continue
 
-        print("No symbol/choice named '{}' in the configuration"
-              .format(cmd))
+        print("No symbol/choice named '{}' in the configuration".format(cmd),
+              file=sys.stderr)
diff --git a/examples/merge_config.py b/examples/merge_config.py
index ec022d5..6f60375 100644..100755
--- a/examples/merge_config.py
+++ b/examples/merge_config.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
 # This script functions similarly to scripts/kconfig/merge_config.sh from the
 # kernel tree, merging multiple configurations fragments to produce a complete
 # .config, with unspecified values filled in as for alldefconfig.
@@ -37,7 +39,8 @@
 #
 # conf3 contents:
 #
-#     # Ops... assigned twice
+#     # Assigned twice (would generate warning if 'warn_assign_override' was
+#     # True)
 #     # CONFIG_FOO is not set
 #
 #     # Ops... this symbol doesn't exist
@@ -54,15 +57,20 @@
 # Running:
 #
 #     $ python(3) merge_config.py Kconfig merged conf1 conf2 conf3 conf4
-#     conf3:2: warning: FOO (defined at Kconfig:1) set more than once. Old value: "y", new value: "n".
-#     conf3:5: warning: attempt to assign the value "y" to the undefined symbol OPS
-#     warning: QAZ (defined at Kconfig:10) was assigned the value "y" but got the value "n" -- check dependencies
+#     Merged configuration 'conf1'
+#     Merged configuration 'conf2'
+#     conf3:5: warning: attempt to assign the value 'y' to the undefined symbol OPS
+#     Merged configuration 'conf3'
+#     Merged configuration 'conf4'
+#     Configuration saved to 'merged'
+#     warning: QAZ (defined at Kconfig:10) was assigned the value 'y' but got the value 'n' -- check dependencies
 #     $ cat merged
 #     Generated by Kconfiglib (https://github.com/ulfalizer/Kconfiglib)
 #     # CONFIG_FOO is not set
 #     CONFIG_BAR=y
 #     CONFIG_BAZ="baz string"
 
+from __future__ import print_function
 import sys
 
 from kconfiglib import Kconfig, BOOL, TRISTATE, TRI_TO_STR
@@ -86,12 +94,13 @@ kconf.enable_undef_warnings()
 kconf.disable_override_warnings()
 kconf.disable_redun_warnings()
 
-# Create a merged configuration by loading the fragments with replace=False
+# Create a merged configuration by loading the fragments with replace=False.
+# load_config() and write_config() returns a message to print.
 for config in sys.argv[3:]:
-    kconf.load_config(config, replace=False)
+    print(kconf.load_config(config, replace=False))
 
 # Write the merged configuration
-kconf.write_config(sys.argv[2])
+print(kconf.write_config(sys.argv[2]))
 
 # Print warnings for symbols whose actual value doesn't match the assigned
 # value
@@ -119,5 +128,6 @@ for sym in kconf.defined_syms:
 
         if user_value != sym.str_value:
             print("warning: {} was assigned the value '{}' but got the "
-                  "value '{}' -- check dependencies"
-                  .format(name_and_loc(sym), user_value, sym.str_value))
+                  "value '{}' -- check dependencies".format(
+                      name_and_loc(sym), user_value, sym.str_value),
+                  file=sys.stderr)
diff --git a/genconfig.py b/genconfig.py
index ba2bb73..aebff35 100755
--- a/genconfig.py
+++ b/genconfig.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def main():
 
 
     kconf = kconfiglib.Kconfig(args.kconfig_filename)
-    kconf.load_config(verbose=False)
+    kconf.load_config()
 
     kconf.write_autoconf(args.header_path)
 
diff --git a/guiconfig.py b/guiconfig.py
index 9563ab4..ca04e06 100755
--- a/guiconfig.py
+++ b/guiconfig.py
@@ -175,12 +175,12 @@ def menuconfig(kconf):
 
     _create_ui()
 
-    # Load existing configuration and check if it's outdated
-    _set_conf_changed(_load_config())
-
     # Filename to save configuration to
     _conf_filename = standard_config_filename()
 
+    # Load existing configuration and check if it's outdated
+    _set_conf_changed(_load_config())
+
     # Filename to save minimal configuration to
     _minconf_filename = "defconfig"
 
@@ -238,7 +238,8 @@ def _load_config():
     # Returns True if .config is missing or outdated. We always prompt for
     # saving the configuration in that case.
 
-    if not _kconf.load_config():
+    print(_kconf.load_config())
+    if not os.path.exists(_conf_filename):
         # No .config
         return True
 
@@ -639,7 +640,8 @@ def _set_conf_changed(changed):
     global _conf_changed
 
     _conf_changed = changed
-    _set_status("Modified" if changed else "")
+    if changed:
+        _set_status("Modified")
 
 
 def _update_tree():
@@ -1341,7 +1343,6 @@ def _save(_=None):
 
     if _try_save(_kconf.write_config, _conf_filename, "configuration"):
         _set_conf_changed(False)
-        _set_status("Configuration saved to " + _conf_filename)
 
     _tree.focus_set()
 
@@ -1363,7 +1364,6 @@ def _save_as():
             break
 
         if _try_save(_kconf.write_config, filename, "configuration"):
-            _set_status("Configuration saved to " + filename)
             _conf_filename = filename
             break
 
@@ -1433,7 +1433,6 @@ def _open(_=None):
 
             _update_tree()
 
-            _set_status("Configuration loaded from " + filename)
             break
 
     _tree.focus_set()
@@ -1694,8 +1693,10 @@ def _try_save(save_fn, filename, description):
     #   String describing the thing being saved
 
     try:
-        save_fn(filename)
-        print("{} saved to '{}'".format(description, filename))
+        # save_fn() returns a message to print
+        msg = save_fn(filename)
+        _set_status(msg)
+        print(msg)
         return True
     except (OSError, IOError) as e:
         messagebox.showerror(
@@ -1714,8 +1715,9 @@ def _try_load(filename):
     #   Configuration file to load
 
     try:
-        _kconf.load_config(filename)
-        print("configuration loaded from " + filename)
+        msg = _kconf.load_config(filename)
+        _set_status(msg)
+        print(msg)
         return True
     except (OSError, IOError) as e:
         messagebox.showerror(
diff --git a/kconfiglib.py b/kconfiglib.py
index 01ba0b8..d33a690 100644
--- a/kconfiglib.py
+++ b/kconfiglib.py
@@ -1058,7 +1058,7 @@ class Kconfig(object):
 
         return None
 
-    def load_config(self, filename=None, replace=True, verbose=True):
+    def load_config(self, filename=None, replace=True, verbose=None):
         """
         Loads symbol values from a file in the .config format. Equivalent to
         calling Symbol.set_value() to set each of the values.
@@ -1106,36 +1106,40 @@ class Kconfig(object):
           If True, all existing user values will be cleared before loading the
           .config. Pass False to merge configurations.
 
-        verbose (default: True):
-          If True and filename is None (automatically infer configuration
-          file), a message will be printed to stdout telling which file got
-          loaded (or that no file got loaded). This is meant to reduce
-          boilerplate in tools.
+        verbose (default: None):
+          Limited backwards compatibility to prevent crashes. A warning is
+          printed if anything but None is passed.
 
-        Returns True if an existing configuration was loaded (that didn't come
-        from the 'option defconfig_list' symbol), and False otherwise. This is
-        mostly useful in conjunction with filename=None, as True will always be
-        returned otherwise.
+          Prior to Kconfiglib 12.0.0, this option enabled printing of messages
+          to stdout when 'filename' was None. A message is (always) returned
+          now instead, which is more flexible.
+
+          Will probably be removed in some future version.
+
+        Returns a string with a message saying which file got loaded (or
+        possibly that no file got loaded, when 'filename' is None). This is
+        meant to reduce boilerplate in tools, which can do e.g.
+        print(kconf.load_config()).
         """
-        loaded_existing = True
+        if verbose is not None:
+            _warn_verbose_deprecated("load_config")
+
+        msg = None
         if filename is None:
             filename = standard_config_filename()
-            if exists(filename):
-                if verbose:
-                    print("Using existing configuration '{}' as base"
-                          .format(filename))
-            else:
-                filename = self.defconfig_filename
-                if filename is None:
-                    if verbose:
-                        print("Using default symbol values as base")
-                    return False
+            if not exists(filename) and \
+               not exists(join(self.srctree, filename)):
+                defconfig = self.defconfig_filename
+                if defconfig is None:
+                    return "Using default symbol values (no '{}')" \
+                           .format(filename)
 
-                if verbose:
-                    print("Using default configuration found in '{}' as "
-                          "base".format(filename))
+                msg = " default configuration '{}' (no '{}')" \
+                      .format(defconfig, filename)
+                filename = defconfig
 
-                loaded_existing = False
+        if not msg:
+            msg = " configuration '{}'".format(filename)
 
         # Disable the warning about assigning to symbols without prompts. This
         # is normal and expected within a .config file.
@@ -1149,7 +1153,7 @@ class Kconfig(object):
         finally:
             self._warn_for_no_prompt = True
 
-        return loaded_existing
+        return ("Loaded" if replace else "Merged") + msg
 
     def _load_config(self, filename, replace):
         with self._open_config(filename) as f:
@@ -1367,7 +1371,7 @@ class Kconfig(object):
 
     def write_config(self, filename=None,
                      header="# Generated by Kconfiglib (https://github.com/ulfalizer/Kconfiglib)\n",
-                     save_old=True, verbose=True):
+                     save_old=True, verbose=None):
         r"""
         Writes out symbol values in the .config format. The format matches the
         C implementation, including ordering.
@@ -1406,21 +1410,29 @@ class Kconfig(object):
           due to being a directory, or <filename> being something like
           /dev/null).
 
-        verbose (default: True):
-          If True and filename is None (automatically infer configuration
-          file), a message will be printed to stdout telling which file got
-          written. This is meant to reduce boilerplate in tools.
+        verbose (default: None):
+          Limited backwards compatibility to prevent crashes. A warning is
+          printed if anything but None is passed.
+
+          Prior to Kconfiglib 12.0.0, this option enabled printing of messages
+          to stdout when 'filename' was None. A message is (always) returned
+          now instead, which is more flexible.
+
+          Will probably be removed in some future version.
+
+        Returns a string with a message saying which file got saved. This is
+        meant to reduce boilerplate in tools, which can do e.g.
+        print(kconf.write_config()).
         """
+        if verbose is not None:
+            _warn_verbose_deprecated("write_config")
+
         if filename is None:
             filename = standard_config_filename()
-        else:
-            verbose = False
 
         contents = self._config_contents(header)
         if self._contents_eq(filename, contents):
-            if verbose:
-                 print("No change to '{}'".format(filename))
-            return
+            return "No change to '{}'".format(filename)
 
         if save_old:
             _save_old(filename)
@@ -1428,8 +1440,7 @@ class Kconfig(object):
         with self._open(filename, "w") as f:
             f.write(contents)
 
-        if verbose:
-            print("Configuration written to '{}'".format(filename))
+        return "Configuration saved to '{}'".format(filename)
 
     def _config_contents(self, header):
         # write_config() helper. Returns the contents to write as a string,
@@ -1524,34 +1535,53 @@ class Kconfig(object):
           Text that will be inserted verbatim at the beginning of the file. You
           would usually want each line to start with '#' to make it a comment,
           and include a final terminating newline.
+
+        Returns a string with a message saying which file got saved. This is
+        meant to reduce boilerplate in tools, which can do e.g.
+        print(kconf.write_min_config()).
         """
+        contents = self._min_config_contents(header)
+        if self._contents_eq(filename, contents):
+            return "No change to '{}'".format(filename)
+
         with self._open(filename, "w") as f:
-            f.write(header)
+            f.write(contents)
 
-            for sym in self.unique_defined_syms:
-                # Skip symbols that cannot be changed. Only check
-                # non-choice symbols, as selects don't affect choice
-                # symbols.
-                if not sym.choice and \
-                   sym.visibility <= expr_value(sym.rev_dep):
-                    continue
+        return "Minimal configuration saved to '{}'".format(filename)
 
-                # Skip symbols whose value matches their default
-                if sym.str_value == sym._str_default():
-                    continue
+    def _min_config_contents(self, header):
+        # write_min_config() helper. Returns the contents to write as a string,
+        # with 'header' at the beginning.
 
-                # Skip symbols that would be selected by default in a
-                # choice, unless the choice is optional or the symbol type
-                # isn't bool (it might be possible to set the choice mode
-                # to n or the symbol to m in those cases).
-                if sym.choice and \
-                   not sym.choice.is_optional and \
-                   sym.choice._get_selection_from_defaults() is sym and \
-                   sym.orig_type is BOOL and \
-                   sym.tri_value == 2:
-                    continue
+        chunks = [header]
+        add = chunks.append
 
-                f.write(sym.config_string)
+        for sym in self.unique_defined_syms:
+            # Skip symbols that cannot be changed. Only check
+            # non-choice symbols, as selects don't affect choice
+            # symbols.
+            if not sym.choice and \
+               sym.visibility <= expr_value(sym.rev_dep):
+                continue
+
+            # Skip symbols whose value matches their default
+            if sym.str_value == sym._str_default():
+                continue
+
+            # Skip symbols that would be selected by default in a
+            # choice, unless the choice is optional or the symbol type
+            # isn't bool (it might be possible to set the choice mode
+            # to n or the symbol to m in those cases).
+            if sym.choice and \
+               not sym.choice.is_optional and \
+               sym.choice._get_selection_from_defaults() is sym and \
+               sym.orig_type is BOOL and \
+               sym.tri_value == 2:
+                continue
+
+            add(sym.config_string)
+
+        return "".join(chunks)
 
     def sync_deps(self, path):
         """
@@ -2083,7 +2113,7 @@ class Kconfig(object):
         # filesystem, compare the files, and rename() the temporary file if it
         # differs, but it breaks stuff like write_config("/dev/null"), which is
         # used out there to force evaluation-related warnings to be generated.
-        # This simple version pretty failsafe and portable.
+        # This simple version is pretty failsafe and portable.
 
         if not self._contents_eq(filename, contents):
             with self._open(filename, "w") as f:
@@ -5989,6 +6019,10 @@ def load_allconfig(kconf, filename):
       Command-specific configuration filename - "allyes.config",
       "allno.config", etc.
     """
+    allconfig = os.environ.get("KCONFIG_ALLCONFIG")
+    if allconfig is None:
+        return
+
     def std_msg(e):
         # "Upcasts" a _KconfigIOError to an IOError, removing the custom
         # __str__() message. The standard message is better here.
@@ -5997,25 +6031,23 @@ def load_allconfig(kconf, filename):
     kconf.disable_override_warnings()
     kconf.disable_redun_warnings()
 
-    allconfig = os.environ.get("KCONFIG_ALLCONFIG")
-    if allconfig is not None:
-        if allconfig in ("", "1"):
-            try:
-                kconf.load_config(filename, False)
-            except IOError as e1:
-                try:
-                    kconf.load_config("all.config", False)
-                except IOError as e2:
-                    sys.exit("error: KCONFIG_ALLCONFIG is set, but neither {} "
-                             "nor all.config could be opened: {}, {}"
-                             .format(filename, std_msg(e1), std_msg(e2)))
-        else:
+    if allconfig in ("", "1"):
+        try:
+            print(kconf.load_config(filename, False))
+        except IOError as e1:
             try:
-                kconf.load_config(allconfig, False)
-            except IOError as e:
-                sys.exit("error: KCONFIG_ALLCONFIG is set to '{}', which "
-                         "could not be opened: {}"
-                         .format(allconfig, std_msg(e)))
+                print(kconf.load_config("all.config", False))
+            except IOError as e2:
+                sys.exit("error: KCONFIG_ALLCONFIG is set, but neither {} "
+                         "nor all.config could be opened: {}, {}"
+                         .format(filename, std_msg(e1), std_msg(e2)))
+    else:
+        try:
+            print(kconf.load_config(allconfig, False))
+        except IOError as e:
+            sys.exit("error: KCONFIG_ALLCONFIG is set to '{}', which "
+                     "could not be opened: {}"
+                     .format(allconfig, std_msg(e)))
 
     # API wart: It would be nice if there was a way to query and/or push/pop
     # warning settings
@@ -6166,28 +6198,6 @@ def _save_old(path):
         pass
 
 
-def _decoding_error(e, filename, macro_linenr=None):
-    # Gives the filename and context for UnicodeDecodeError's, which are a pain
-    # to debug otherwise. 'e' is the UnicodeDecodeError object.
-    #
-    # If the decoding error is for the output of a $(shell,...) command,
-    # macro_linenr holds the line number where it was run (the exact line
-    # number isn't available for decoding errors in files).
-
-    raise KconfigError(
-        "\n"
-        "Malformed {} in {}\n"
-        "Context: {}\n"
-        "Problematic data: {}\n"
-        "Reason: {}".format(
-            e.encoding,
-            "'{}'".format(filename) if macro_linenr is None else
-                "output from macro at {}:{}".format(filename, macro_linenr),
-            e.object[max(e.start - 40, 0):e.end + 40],
-            e.object[e.start:e.end],
-            e.reason))
-
-
 def _name_and_loc(sc):
     # Helper for giving the symbol/choice name and location(s) in e.g. warnings
 
@@ -6485,6 +6495,38 @@ def _found_dep_loop(loop, cur):
     raise KconfigError(msg)
 
 
+def _decoding_error(e, filename, macro_linenr=None):
+    # Gives the filename and context for UnicodeDecodeError's, which are a pain
+    # to debug otherwise. 'e' is the UnicodeDecodeError object.
+    #
+    # If the decoding error is for the output of a $(shell,...) command,
+    # macro_linenr holds the line number where it was run (the exact line
+    # number isn't available for decoding errors in files).
+
+    raise KconfigError(
+        "\n"
+        "Malformed {} in {}\n"
+        "Context: {}\n"
+        "Problematic data: {}\n"
+        "Reason: {}".format(
+            e.encoding,
+            "'{}'".format(filename) if macro_linenr is None else
+                "output from macro at {}:{}".format(filename, macro_linenr),
+            e.object[max(e.start - 40, 0):e.end + 40],
+            e.object[e.start:e.end],
+            e.reason))
+
+
+def _warn_verbose_deprecated(fn_name):
+    sys.stderr.write(
+        "Deprecation warning: {0}()'s 'verbose' argument has no effect. Since "
+        "Kconfiglib 12.0.0, the message is returned from {0}() instead, "
+        "and is always generated. Do e.g. print(kconf.{0}()) if you want to "
+        "want to show a message like \"Loaded configuration '.config'\" on "
+        "stdout. The old API required ugly hacks to reuse messages in "
+        "configuration interfaces.\n".format(fn_name))
+
+
 # Predefined preprocessor functions
 
 
diff --git a/listnewconfig.py b/listnewconfig.py
index 06d0cf1..59de141 100755
--- a/listnewconfig.py
+++ b/listnewconfig.py
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ from kconfiglib import standard_kconfig, BOOL, TRISTATE, INT, HEX, STRING, \
 
 def main():
     kconf = standard_kconfig()
-    kconf.load_config()
+    # Make it possible to filter this message out
+    sys.stderr.write(kconf.load_config() + "\n")
+
     for sym in kconf.unique_defined_syms:
         # Only show symbols that can be toggled. Choice symbols are a special
         # case in that sym.assignable will be (2,) (length 1) for visible
diff --git a/menuconfig.py b/menuconfig.py
index 3dbee95..a7f921b 100755
--- a/menuconfig.py
+++ b/menuconfig.py
@@ -650,12 +650,12 @@ def menuconfig(kconf):
 
     _kconf = kconf
 
-    # Load existing configuration and set _conf_changed True if it is outdated
-    _conf_changed = _load_config()
-
     # Filename to save configuration to
     _conf_filename = standard_config_filename()
 
+    # Load existing configuration and set _conf_changed True if it is outdated
+    _conf_changed = _load_config()
+
     # Filename to save minimal configuration to
     _minconf_filename = "defconfig"
 
@@ -710,7 +710,8 @@ def _load_config():
     # Returns True if .config is missing or outdated. We always prompt for
     # saving the configuration in that case.
 
-    if not _kconf.load_config():
+    print(_kconf.load_config())
+    if not os.path.exists(_conf_filename):
         # No .config
         return True
 
@@ -922,8 +923,9 @@ def _quit_dialog():
             return None
 
         if c == "y":
-            if _try_save(_kconf.write_config, _conf_filename, "configuration"):
-                return "Configuration saved to '{}'".format(_conf_filename)
+            msg = _try_save(_kconf.write_config, _conf_filename, "configuration")
+            if msg:
+                return msg
 
         elif c == "n":
             return "Configuration ({}) was not saved".format(_conf_filename)
@@ -1858,29 +1860,33 @@ def _save_dialog(save_fn, default_filename, description):
 
         filename = os.path.expanduser(filename)
 
-        if _try_save(save_fn, filename, description):
-            _msg("Success", "{} saved to {}".format(description, filename))
+        msg = _try_save(save_fn, filename, description)
+        if msg:
+            _msg("Success", msg)
             return filename
 
 
 def _try_save(save_fn, filename, description):
-    # Tries to save a configuration file. Pops up an error and returns False on
-    # failure.
+    # Tries to save a configuration file. Returns a message to print on
+    # success.
     #
     # save_fn:
     #   Function to call with 'filename' to save the file
     #
     # description:
     #   String describing the thing being saved
+    #
+    # Return value:
+    #   A message to print on success, and None on failure
 
     try:
-        save_fn(filename)
-        return True
+        # save_fn() returns a message to print
+        return save_fn(filename)
     except OSError as e:
         _error("Error saving {} to '{}'\n\n{} (errno: {})"
                .format(description, e.filename, e.strerror,
                        errno.errorcode[e.errno]))
-        return False
+        return None
 
 
 def _key_dialog(title, text, keys):
diff --git a/oldconfig.py b/oldconfig.py
index 7cc9e5b..042ab44 100755
--- a/oldconfig.py
+++ b/oldconfig.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def _main():
     global conf_changed
 
     kconf = standard_kconfig()
-    kconf.load_config()
+    print(kconf.load_config())
 
     while True:
         conf_changed = False
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def _main():
         if not conf_changed:
             break
 
-    kconf.write_config()
+    print(kconf.write_config())
 
 
 def oldconfig(node):
diff --git a/olddefconfig.py b/olddefconfig.py
index 1d1bac1..a59a7d4 100755
--- a/olddefconfig.py
+++ b/olddefconfig.py
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ import kconfiglib
 
 def main():
     kconf = kconfiglib.standard_kconfig()
-    kconf.load_config()
-    kconf.write_config()
+    print(kconf.load_config())
+    print(kconf.write_config())
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/savedefconfig.py b/savedefconfig.py
index 8b45fe4..c388f1a 100755
--- a/savedefconfig.py
+++ b/savedefconfig.py
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ def main():
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     kconf = kconfiglib.Kconfig(args.kconfig)
-    kconf.load_config()
-    kconf.write_min_config(args.out)
+    print(kconf.load_config())
+    print(kconf.write_min_config(args.out))
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/setconfig.py b/setconfig.py
index c92f346..2a14310 100755
--- a/setconfig.py
+++ b/setconfig.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def main():
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     kconf = kconfiglib.Kconfig(args.kconfig)
-    kconf.load_config()
+    print(kconf.load_config())
 
     for arg in args.assignments:
         if "=" not in arg:
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def main():
                      "sure that it has a prompt."
                      .format(name, value, sym.str_value))
 
-    kconf.write_config()
+    print(kconf.write_config())
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":