Bugzilla: Time for a bug management system?
By Jonathan Schindler at Feb 19, 2009 |
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This weekend I plan on setting up a bugzilla server so that z users can log in their requests in a formal manner. The advantages of using a bug tracking system are:
1. A single place for users to log their complaints and issues
2. A convenient system for organizing feature requests, and grouping together redundant requests (i.e. if issue 12475 is the same as 11623, it allows you to easily merge the two threads together).
3. A searchable feedback system so that users can follow progress that is being made, and a history of issues. Bugzilla also allows you to create subsections covering particular areas of the site.
4. A prioritization system so that users can see what is getting priority
5. A place for users to put feature requests.
Bugzilla is used to manage user feedback for quite a few large (open and closed source) projects. I've noticed that the threads have been quite contentious, and bugtracking systems help to reduce that. Users can go on to the site, and they can see,"there are two members of staff working on the bugs, and here's what they're doing to address them." Such feedback does quite a bit to reduce redundant requests, and to assure users that there is followup. My guess is that it make things much more constructive.
What does everyone think? I already have a test version set up at home, but have yet to get everything up and running. If the idea gets completely shot down, then I can put it on the back burner, otherwise, I could try to get something up and running soon.



Re: Bugzilla: Time for a bug management system?
By Schindler, Jonathan at Feb 24, 2009 11:02 AM
Just a quick reply. I've added Michael and Chris to the bugzilla web site (they both have accounts). They will be the default assignee for bugs that are submitted, so they will see anything that is entered into the site now.
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Re: Bugzilla: Time for a bug management system?
By Kreider, Aaron at Feb 23, 2009 16:27 PM
If you have trouble getting the email from the BugZilla, check your spam folder. Search for "From: bugzilla-daemon@zcc"
It triggered my spam filter (spam assasin) with a medium level spam score. Hopefully Jonathan can fix this by changing the From address in the email.
I've posted 7 bugs on the site so far.
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Re: Bugzilla: Time for a bug management system?
By Schindler, Jonathan at Feb 20, 2009 23:50 PM
I managed to get a rough version of the site running here:
http://zconsumerscouncil.org/bugs
You can also use https for security, but your browser will tell you that the security certificate was self generated, which is true, but the encryption will still work.
Depending on what kind of feed back we get, there are a lot of things we can do. For now, I would just like people to poke around and see what they think of it. I'm sure you'll find issues, and have questions. I'm not an expert on bugzilla either, but if there is interest, we can get it working. It's set up so that people should be able to create their test accounts right away. If Mike or Chris (or Marcus or Cindy) want administrative accounts, I can set those up too. Let me know what you think, and have a good night.
Jon
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Re:
By Kreider, Aaron at Feb 22, 2009 23:36 PM
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Re: Bugzilla: Time for a bug management system?
By Moorey, Crip at Feb 20, 2009 01:08 AM
Excellent idea. What core is znet based on, btw?
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By Albert, Michael at Feb 19, 2009 10:17 AM
I would certainly like to see a version you think would be helpful - of course!
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