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Bug Reporting Etiquette

Posted by timothy on from the sir-you-have-a-tarantula-in-your-nose-sir dept.

Jamie Zawinski writes "Mozilla.org has a new article on Bugzilla Etiquette. Relevant to more than just Bugzilla, this should be required reading for anyone who wants to file a bug about any product, no matter what bug tracking system is in use. I especially like the mention that "'Open Source' is not the same as 'the developers must do my bidding.'"" Update: 03/19 21:26 GMT by T : If that link doesn't work for you without cutting and pasting, reader Stephen Ostermiller suggests "you might want to use this link which appears to be the same document mirrored elsewhere."

7 of 297 comments (clear)

  1. Bug report by japhar81 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Bug number: 001
    Bug location: Website
    Bug symptoms: Site won't respond
    Comments:
    Slashdotted all to hell.

  2. Inappropriate/Appropriate by Undaar · · Score: 5, Funny

    Appropriate bug reporting:
    "Upon clicking on Submit in ProgramX release X.X.X the system hangs and generates the following output: ..."

    Inappropriate bug reporting:
    "Dude! There's a huge f--king cockroach in my kitchen!!!"

    --
    ~ "When I'm of that age I'm just going to live up a tree."
    1. Re:Inappropriate/Appropriate by TopShelf · · Score: 4, Funny
      Or worse yet:


      "Dude! There's a huge f--king cockroach hanging in my kitchen, generating the following output..."

      --
      Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
  3. One rule that didn't make it... by japhar81 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Always add bitch at the end of the feature request.

    Example
    Incorrect
    The program could use a print preview feature, please add it.

    Correct
    The program could use a print preview feature, please add it, bitch.

    At least that's rule #1 where I work.

  4. This raises two important questions: by burgburgburg · · Score: 4, Funny
    a) What is the same as "the developers must do my bidding"?

    b) What is the phrase or action that will get the developers to actually do my bidding? I'm very busy and quite imperious.

    You may answer me now.

  5. Top 10 Bad Bug Reports by AtariAmarok · · Score: 5, Funny

    10. My program died. I have stapled an explanation to the install diskette and it is in the mail.

    9. I submitted my e-mail address to a dubious web site, and now I get spam. Could you get them to stop? It is your fault: I found the page in your browser.

    7. It happened when I hit one of the keys in one of the screens and I saw a message that said something appear. I think it was that version with the 1 in the name. It might have been Mozilla or Opera, don't ask me.

    6. Every time I click on the monkey to win $10,000, I never get anything. Could you add a feature in your future version that makes sure that clicks hit the right monkey?

    5. The word "Ayatollah" was not spelled right in one of your web pages, www.cnn.com. Please fix immediately.

    4. Mothra is attacking!!!!

    3. My el33t boxen broke da bugz. 2 u now.

    2. Author Stephen King dead at 54

    1. My preying mantis is not housebroken, no matter how much I do. What is there to do besides scold him with "Bad bug! Bad bug!"

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  6. Re:RTFM by Gortbusters.org · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unfortunately, we can't even RTFA..

    --
    --------
    Free your mind.