[Mageia-discuss] Suggestions

[Thomas Backlund]

David W. Hodgins skrev 24.10.2010 11:07:
> On Sun, 24 Oct 2010 02:08:18 -0400, Thomas Backlund<tmb at iki.fi>  wrote:
>
>> You dont need to find the packager...
>> Just enter a bug (enhancement) report and BugZilla and it will know...
>> (and if bugzilla is way off, Triage will assign it...)
>> Thats all that is needed...
>
> I wish that were true.  Actual bug reports,  ...
>
> https://qa.mandriva.com/show_bug.cgi?id=45605
> Reported almost two years ago.  Still present in Mandriva.
> Minor, cosmetic bug, but still a bug.
>

Yeah,
this one points out one known problem...

we have more packages than maintainers, and if no maintainer steps up,
the conclusion Pacho made is unfortunately true.


> https://qa.mandriva.com/show_bug.cgi?id=51794
> Reported in 2010.1 alpha 1.  Still present in final release.
>

Well, one problem in this is that its not easy to reproduce,
as I know several users do test the installer, me included both
with DHCP and with static IP and it has always worked for me...

But this bug should have been triaged more and asked for a installer
bug report (typing "bug" and it would dump data to either floppy or usb)

> I've participated in the testing of every release, since mdk 10.
>
> During the alpha/beta testing of 2010.1, I gave up testing, and
> reporting bugs.  In my opinion, the primary goal of those tests
> should be getting the installer working correctly.  All other
> bugs can be be fixed, by updates.  Only one of the bugs I reported
> on the alpha 1 installer was fixed before the actual release.
>

The installer is tested many times, but unless someone can either
reproduce it, or ask for the right info, it wont be fixed.

> Every time I spent 26 hours downloading the installation dvd, after
> alpha 1, and testing the install, seemed like a complete waste of
> my time.  I will not participate in Mandriva alpha/beta testing
> anymore, due to this.
>

Sad to hear, even if I do understand your frustration.

> I'm hoping Mageia will place a much higher priority on getting
> the installer right.  I do understand, that it will likely have
> very few developers assigned to it, as most will be busy getting
> all of their other packages ready, but really, it goes into the
> iso that gets released, and can not be fixed by updates.  It
> should be the highest priority part of the distribution.
>

It's wery important yes...

> Any problems with the installer will not be fixable, till the
> next release.
>

Here I'd like us to change the procedure to update the installer
on the mirrors, so you can then start from an updated boot.iso,
get the updated installer and then point it to the initial cd/dvd
for the rpms.

I've done this myself in the past, so I know it atleast used to work.

> I'm also hoping you will not take this as a personal insult.  I
> was frustrated enough by the above, that I was already looking
> for a better distribution, when Mageia was announced.  I'm sure
> whoever was responsible for the installer, was doing the best
> they could, with their workload on other packages, but it does
> get annoying, when bugs, that clearly should be high priority,
> do not get fixed.  Replying to your message above, seemed like
> a good opportunity, to let out this rant.
>

It's no insult when pointing out problems and potential improvements...
We should always be open to changes, and if sometimes a change is not
desired, clearly explain why...


> As to your actual message, bug reports don't always work, and
> when they don't, the users get very frustrated.
>

Very true,

this is a normal feeling when one have a bug report or an issue
with something be it programs, computers, cars, houses or whatever...

if no satisfying response (or none at all) then most people get 
frustrated...

--
Thomas