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author | lpsolit%gmail.com <> | 2006-09-26 18:07:21 +0000 |
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committer | lpsolit%gmail.com <> | 2006-09-26 18:07:21 +0000 |
commit | b4a70343d5c428144ab3fb215a4b962879eb3c53 (patch) | |
tree | 56a636bd3570dbfa4697ef56ee3a8d6b660f0e32 /template/en/default | |
parent | b93a222fc36f803ee31de2859fa989e2a9cf54be (diff) | |
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Bug 352165: Improve the "Bug Writing Guidelines" - Patch by eli@prometheus-music.com r=gerv, r=timeless a=justdave
Diffstat (limited to 'template/en/default')
-rw-r--r-- | template/en/default/pages/bug-writing.html.tmpl | 293 |
1 files changed, 125 insertions, 168 deletions
diff --git a/template/en/default/pages/bug-writing.html.tmpl b/template/en/default/pages/bug-writing.html.tmpl index 0317ae6a1..8cfa76b0f 100644 --- a/template/en/default/pages/bug-writing.html.tmpl +++ b/template/en/default/pages/bug-writing.html.tmpl @@ -18,188 +18,164 @@ # # Contributor(s): Eli Goldberg <eli@prometheus-music.com> # Gervase Markham <gerv@gerv.net> + # Vera Horiuchi # Claudius Gayle # Peter Mock # Chris Pratt # Tom Schutter # Chris Yeh #%] - -[% PROCESS global/variables.none.tmpl %] -[% INCLUDE global/header.html.tmpl title = "$terms.Bug Writing Guidelines" %] -<h3>Why You Should Read This</h3> +[% PROCESS "global/field-descs.none.tmpl" %] + +[% INCLUDE global/header.html.tmpl title = "$terms.Bug Writing Guidelines" %] + +<h3>Contents</h3> +<ul> +<li><a href="#why">Why You Should Read This</a></li> +<li><a href="#useful">What Makes [% terms.aBug %] Report Useful?</a></li> +<li><a href="#before">Before You Start...</a></li> +<li><a href="#reporting">Reporting a New [% terms.Bug %]</a></li> +<li><a href="#more">More Information on Writing Good [% terms.Bugs %]</a></li> +</ul> + +<h3><a name="why">Why You Should Read This</a></h3> <blockquote> <p>Simply put, the more effectively you report [% terms.abug %], the more - likely an - engineer will actually fix it.</p> - - <p>These guidelines are a general tutorial to teach novice and - intermediate [% terms.bug %] reporters how to compose effective - [% terms.bug %] reports. Not - every sentence may precisely apply to your software project.</p> + likely an engineer will actually fix it. This tutorial teaches novice and + intermediate [% terms.bug %] reporters how to write effective + [% terms.bug %] reports.</p> </blockquote> -<h3>How to Write a Useful [% terms.Bug %] Report</h3> +<h3><a name="useful">What Makes [% terms.aBug %] Report Useful?</a></h3> <blockquote> - <p>Useful [% terms.bug %] reports are ones that get [% terms.bugs %] fixed. - A useful [% terms.bug %] report normally has two qualities:</p> - - <ol> - <li><b>Reproducible.</b> If an engineer can't see the [% terms.bug %] - herself to prove that it exists, she'll probably stamp your [% terms.bug %] - report "WORKSFORME" or "INVALID" and move on to the next [% terms.bug %]. - Every detail you can provide helps.<br> + <p>Useful [% terms.bug %] reports get [% terms.bugs %] fixed. + A useful [% terms.bug %] report has two qualities:</p> + + <ul> + <li><b>It's Reproducible.</b> Engineers usually prefer to fix [% terms.bugs %] + they can actually see. If an engineer can't reproduce the [% terms.bug %], + it'll probably be stamped "[% resolution_descs.WORKSFORME %]" or + "[% resolution_descs.INVALID %]".<br> <br> </li> - <li><b>Specific.</b> The quicker the engineer can isolate the - [% terms.bug %] to a specific area, the more likely she'll expediently - fix it. (If a programmer or tester has to decipher [% terms.abug %], - they may spend more time cursing the submitter than solving the - problem.)<br> - <br> - [ <a href="#tips" name="Anchor">Tell Me More</a> ]</li> - </ol> - - <p>Let's say the application you're testing is a web browser. You crash - at foo.com, and want to write up a [% terms.bug %] report:</p> + <li><b>It's Specific.</b> The quicker an engineer isolates the + [% terms.bug %] to a specific area, the more likely it'll be fixed. (If the + engineer must decipher your [% terms.bug %], + he or she will waste time cursing you instead.)<br> + </li> + </ul> - <blockquote> - <p><b>BAD:</b> "My browser crashed. I think I was on www.foo.com. I - play golf with Bill Gates, so you better fix this problem, or I'll - report you to him. By the way, your Back icon looks like a squashed - rodent. UGGGLY. And my grandmother's home page is all messed up in your - browser. Thx 4 UR help."</p> - - <p><b>GOOD:</b> "I crashed each time I went to www.foo.com, using the - 2002-02-25 build on a Windows 2000 system. I also rebooted into Linux, - and reproduced this problem using the 2002-02-24 Linux build.</p> - - <p>It again crashed each time upon drawing the Foo banner at the top of - the page. I broke apart the page, and discovered that the following - image link will crash the application reproducibly, unless you remove - the "border=0" attribute:</p> - - <p><tt><IMG SRC="http://www.foo.com/images/topics/topicfoos.gif" - width="34" height="44" border="0" alt="News"></tt></p> - </blockquote> </blockquote> -<h3>How to Enter your Useful [% terms.Bug %] Report - into [% terms.Bugzilla %]:</h3> +<h3><a name="before">Before You Start...</a></h3> -<blockquote> - <p>Before you enter your [% terms.bug %], use [% terms.Bugzilla %]'s - <a href="query.cgi">search page</a> to determine whether the defect - you've discovered is a known, already-reported [% terms.bug %]. If - your [% terms.bug %] is the 37th duplicate of a known issue, - you're more likely to annoy the engineer. (Annoyed engineers fix fewer - [% terms.bugs %].)</p> - - <p>Next, be sure to reproduce your [% terms.bug %] using a recent build. +<ol> + <li>Before you enter your [% terms.bug %], use [% terms.Bugzilla %]'s + <a href="query.cgi?format=specific">search page</a> to determine whether + your [% terms.bug %] is known.</li> + + <li>Reproduce your [% terms.bug %] using a recent build. Engineers tend to be most interested in problems affecting the code base - that they're actively working on. After all, the [% terms.bug %] you're - reporting may already be fixed.</p> + on which they're actively working. The [% terms.bug %] you're + reporting may already be fixed.</li> +</ol> - <p>If you've discovered a new [% terms.bug %] using a current build, report - it in [% terms.Bugzilla %]:</p> +<blockquote> +Can't find your [% terms.bug %] in [% terms.Bugzilla %]? And you can reproduce +it in a recent build? Let's report it. +</blockquote> - <ol> - <li>From your [% terms.Bugzilla %] main page, choose - "<a href="enter_bug.cgi">Enter a new [% terms.bug %]</a>".</li> +<h3><a name="reporting">Reporting a New [% terms.Bug %]</a></h3> - <li>Select the product that you've found a [% terms.bug %] in.</li> +<ol> + <li>From [% terms.Bugzilla %]'s main page, choose + "<a href="enter_bug.cgi">Enter a new [% terms.bug %]</a>".</li> - <li>Enter your e-mail address, password, and press the "Log in" button. - (If you don't yet have a password, enter your email address below and - press the "Submit Request" button instead. You'll quickly receive - an e-mail message with your password.)</li> - </ol> + <li>Select the product in which you've found [% terms.abug %].</li> + + <li>Log into [% terms.Bugzilla %].</li> + + <li>Fill out the form. Here's what it all means:</li> + +</ol> - <p>Now, fill out the form. Here's what it all means:</p> <p><b>Where did you find the [% terms.bug %]?</b></p> <blockquote> - <p><b>Product: In which product did you find the [% terms.bug %]?</b><br> + <p><b>Product:</b> In which product did you find it?<br> You just specified this on the last page, so you can't edit it here.</p> - <p><b>Version: In which product version did you find - the [% terms.bug %]?</b><br> + <p><b>Version:</b> In which product version did you find + it?<br> (If applicable)</p> - <p><b>Component: In which component does the [% terms.bug %] - exist?</b><br> + <p><b>Component:</b> In which component does it + exist?<br> [% terms.Bugzilla %] requires that you select a component to enter - a [% terms.bug %]. (Not sure which to choose? Click on the Component link. - You'll see a description of each component, to help you make the best - choice.)</p> - - <p><b>OS: On which Operating System (OS) did you find - this [% terms.bug %]?</b> - (e.g. Linux, Windows 2000, Mac OS 9.)<br> - If you know the [% terms.bug %] happens on all OSs, choose 'All'. - Otherwise, select the OS that you found the [% terms.bug %] on, or - "Other" if your OS isn't listed.</p> + [% terms.abug %]. (Click the Component link to see a description of each + component.)</p> + + <p><b>OS:</b> On which operating system (OS) did you find + it? + (e.g. Linux, Windows XP, Mac OS X.)<br> + If the [% terms.bug %] happens on all operating systems, choose "All". + Otherwise, select the OS, or "Other" if your OS isn't listed.</p> </blockquote> <p><b>How important is the [% terms.bug %]?</b></p> <blockquote> - <p><b>Severity: How damaging is the [% terms.bug %]?</b><br> - This item defaults to 'normal'. If you're not sure what severity your - [% terms.bug %] deserves, click on the Severity link. You'll see a - description of each severity rating.<br> + <p><b>Severity:</b> How damaging is it?<br> + The default is 'normal' severity. (Click on the Severity link to see + a description of each severity rating.<br> </p> </blockquote> <p><b>Who will be following up on the [% terms.bug %]?</b></p> <blockquote> - <p><b>Assigned To: Which engineer should be responsible for fixing - this [% terms.bug %]?</b><br> - [% terms.Bugzilla %] will automatically assign the [% terms.bug %] to a + <p><b>Assigned To:</b> Which engineer should be responsible for fixing + it?<br> + [% terms.Bugzilla %] automatically assigns the [% terms.bug %] to a default engineer upon submitting [% terms.abug %] report. If you'd prefer - to directly assign the [% terms.bug %] to someone else, enter their e-mail - address into this field. (To see the list of default engineers for each - component, click on the Component link.)</p> - - <p><b>Cc: Who else should receive e-mail updates on changes to this - [% terms.bug %]?</b><br> - List the full e-mail addresses of other individuals who should receive - an e-mail update upon every change to the [% terms.bug %] report. You can - enter as many e-mail addresses as you'd like, separated by spaces or - commas, as long as those people have [% terms.Bugzilla %] accounts.</p> + to directly assign the [% terms.bug %] to someone else, enter the person's + e-mail address. (To see the list of default engineers for each + component, click the Component link.)</p> + + <p><b>Cc:</b> Who else should receive e-mail updates on changes to this + [% terms.bug %]?<br> + List the e-mail addresses of other people who should receive + an update whenever the [% terms.bug %] report changes. Enter as many e-mail + addresses as you'd like, separating them by spaces or + commas. Important: You can only enter people who have + [% terms.Bugzilla %] accounts.</p> </blockquote> <p><b>What else can you tell the engineer about the [% terms.bug %]?</b></p> <blockquote> - <p><b>Summary:</b> <b>How would you describe the [% terms.bug %], in - approximately 60 or fewer characters?</b><br> + <p><b>Summary:</b> How would you describe the [% terms.bug %], in + approximately 60 or fewer characters?<br> A good summary should <b>quickly and uniquely identify [% terms.abug %] - report</b>. Otherwise, an engineer cannot meaningfully identify your - [% terms.bug %] by its summary, and will often fail to pay attention to - your [% terms.bug %] report when skimming through a 10 - page [% terms.bug %] list.<br> + report</b>. If an engineer can't identify your + [% terms.bug %] by its summary, it may be ignored when skimming through a + 10-page list.<br> <br> - A useful summary might be "<tt>PCMCIA install fails on Tosh Tecra - 780DVD w/ 3c589C</tt>". "<tt>Software fails</tt>" or "<tt>install - problem</tt>" would be examples of a bad summary.<br> - <br> - [ <a href="#summary">Tell Me More</a> ]<br> + A useful summary is "<tt>Cancelling a File Copy dialog crashes Nautilus</tt>". + Examples of bad summaries would be "<tt>Software crashes</tt>" or "<tt>copy problem</tt>".<br> <br> <b>Description:</b><br> - Please provide a detailed problem report in this field. Your - [% terms.bug %]'s recipients will most likely expect the following - information:</p> + Provide a detailed problem report. [% terms.aBug %]'s recipients usually + expect the following information:</p> <blockquote> - <p><b>Overview Description:</b> More detailed expansion of + <p><b>Overview Description:</b> More detailed restatement of summary.</p> <blockquote> @@ -213,13 +189,12 @@ Drag-selecting any page crashes Mac builds in NSGetFactory <blockquote> <pre> -1) View any web page. (I used the default sample page, -resource:/res/samples/test0.html) +1) View any web page. (I used the default sample page, resource:/res/samples/test0.html) 2) Drag-select the page. (Specifically, while holding down the mouse button, drag the mouse pointer downwards from any point in the browser's content region to the bottom of the -browser's content region.) +browser's content region.) </pre> </blockquote> @@ -228,7 +203,7 @@ browser's content region.) <blockquote> <pre> -The application crashed. Stack crawl appended below from MacsBug. +The application crashed. </pre> </blockquote> @@ -243,11 +218,11 @@ The window should scroll downwards. Scrolled content should be selected. </blockquote> <p><b>Build Date & Platform:</b> Date and platform of the build - that you first encountered the [% terms.bug %] in.</p> + in which you first encountered the [% terms.bug %].</p> <blockquote> <pre> -Build 2002-03-15 on Mac OS 9.0 +Build 2006-08-10 on Mac OS 10.4.3 </pre> </blockquote> @@ -257,13 +232,7 @@ Build 2002-03-15 on Mac OS 9.0 <blockquote> <pre> -- Also Occurs On -Mozilla (2002-03-15 build on Windows NT 4.0) - -- Doesn't Occur On -Mozilla (2002-03-15 build on Red Hat Linux; feature not supported) -Internet Explorer 5.0 (shipping build on Windows NT 4.0) -Netscape Communicator 4.5 (shipping build on Mac OS 9.0) +- Doesn't Occur On Build 2006-08-10 on Windows XP Home (Service Pack 2) </pre> </blockquote> @@ -271,38 +240,27 @@ Netscape Communicator 4.5 (shipping build on Mac OS 9.0) For crashing [% terms.bugs %]:</p> <ul> - <li><b>Win32:</b> if you receive a Dr. Watson error, please note - the type of the crash, and the module that the application crashed - in. (e.g. access violation in apprunner.exe)</li> + <li><b>Windows:</b> Note the type of the crash, and the module that the + application crashed in (e.g. access violation in apprunner.exe).</li> + + <li><b>Mac OS X:</b> Attach the "Crash Reporter" log that appears upon crash. + Only include the section directly below the crashing thread, usually titled + "Thread 0 Crashed". Please do not paste the entire log!</li> - <li><b>Mac OS:</b> if you're running MacsBug, please provide the - results of a <b>how</b> and an <b>sc</b>:</li> </ul> - <blockquote> -<pre> -*** MACSBUG STACK CRAWL OF CRASH (Mac OS) -Calling chain using A6/R1 links -Back chain ISA Caller -00000000 PPC 0BA85E74 -03AEFD80 PPC 0B742248 -03AEFD30 PPC 0B50FDDC NSGetFactory+027FC -PowerPC unmapped memory exception at 0B512BD0 NSGetFactory+055F0 -</pre> - </blockquote> </blockquote> - </blockquote> <p>You're done!<br> <br> After double-checking your entries for any possible errors, press the - "Commit" button, and your [% terms.bug %] report will now be in + "Commit" button. Your [% terms.bug %] report will now be in the [% terms.Bugzilla %] database.<br> </p> </blockquote> <hr> -<h3>More Information on Writing Good [% terms.Bugs %]</h3> +<h3><a name="more">More Information on Writing Good [% terms.Bugs %]</a></h3> <blockquote> <p><b><a name="tips"></a> 1. General Tips for a Useful [% terms.Bug %] @@ -311,8 +269,8 @@ PowerPC unmapped memory exception at 0B512BD0 NSGetFactory+055F0 <blockquote> <p><b>Use an explicit structure, so your [% terms.bug %] reports are easy to skim.</b> [% terms.Bug %] report users often need immediate access to - specific sections of your [% terms.bug %]. If your [% terms.Bugzilla %] - installation supports the [% terms.Bugzilla %] Helper, use it.</p> + specific sections of your [% terms.bug %]. Follow the structure + recommended above.</p> <p><b>Avoid cuteness if it costs clarity.</b> Nobody will be laughing at your funny [% terms.bug %] title at 3:00 AM when they can't remember how @@ -321,7 +279,7 @@ PowerPC unmapped memory exception at 0B512BD0 NSGetFactory+055F0 <p><b>One [% terms.bug %] per report.</b> Completely different people typically fix, verify, and prioritize different [% terms.bugs %]. If you mix a handful of [% terms.bugs %] into a single report, the right people - probably won't discover your [% terms.bugs %] in a timely fashion, or at + probably won't discover your [% terms.bugs %] in a timely fashion, if at all. Certain [% terms.bugs %] are also more important than others. It's impossible to prioritize [% terms.abug %] report when it contains four different issues, all of differing importance.</p> @@ -350,18 +308,17 @@ PowerPC unmapped memory exception at 0B512BD0 NSGetFactory+055F0 time opening up your [% terms.bug %] to determine whether it matters.</p> <p><b>Your [% terms.bug %] will often be searched by its summary.</b> Just - as you'd find web pages with Google by searching by keywords through - intuition, so will other people locate your [% terms.bugs %]. - Descriptive [% terms.bug %] summaries are - naturally keyword-rich, and easier to find.</p> + as you'd find web pages with Google by searching with keywords, so will other + people locate your [% terms.bugs %]. Descriptive [% terms.bug %] summaries are + naturally keyword-rich and easier to find.</p> - <p>For example, you'll find a [% terms.bug %] titled "<tt>Dragging icons + <p>For example, you'll find [% terms.abug %] titled "<tt>Dragging icons from List View to gnome-terminal doesn't paste path</tt>" if you search on "List", "terminal", or "path". Those search keywords wouldn't have - found a [% terms.bug %] titled "<tt>Dragging icons doesn't paste</tt>".</p> + found [% terms.abug %] titled "<tt>Dragging icons doesn't paste</tt>".</p> <p>Ask yourself, "Would someone understand my [% terms.bug %] from just - this summary?" If so, you've written a fine summary.</p> + this summary?" If so, you've succeeded.</p> <p><b>Don't write titles like these:</b></p> @@ -378,11 +335,11 @@ PowerPC unmapped memory exception at 0B512BD0 NSGetFactory+055F0 <p><b>Good [% terms.bug %] titles:</b></p> <ol> - <li>"1.0 upgrade installation fails if Mozilla M18 package present" - - Explains problem and the context.</li> + <li>"Save button disabled after failed post attempt" - + Explains the problem and context.</li> - <li>"RPM 4 installer crashes if launched on Red Hat 6.2 (RPM 3) - system" - Explains what happens, and the context.</li> + <li>"Enter & Escape have no effect in 'Upload Photos' dialog" - + Also explains the problem and context.</li> </ol> </blockquote> </blockquote> |