open source (Richard Gaskin)

[Ben Rubinstein]

on 7/18/03 2:34 PM, Ben Rubinstein (me) wrote

[... snip...]
> bug reporting database, which IIRC is now
> open to all comers.  Go to www.runrev.com, click "Developers", scroll down
> to "Feedback".  They use bugzilla - it's hairy but basically great.  Warning
> - doesn't seem to play well with Safari - try iCab or IE if you're on Mac.

Since I'm really a Rev user (with an expired MC license) who lurks on this
list and has been lurking heavily through the recent doom-laden discussions,
I think it would be worth saying - go take a look at the bug database.  I
think it should be very reassuring to anyone concerned about responsiveness,
commitment etc under the new regime.

It's completely open to view, and anyone can register to add bugs, or
comment on existing bugs.  Rather than just reporting something to the list,
where it might or might not be lost in the noise, might or might not get a
response, and you have no idea what's happening to it; you can report it in
the database, track it and see what comments have been added, get automatic
email notification any time it is changed, and so on.

Take a look at 
<http://www.runrev.com/revolution/developers/bugdatabase/reports.cgi>

and click "Continue".  You can see all the current bugs (btw in our own
similar system, we prefer the term 'snag' - slightly less negative
overtones!), see who they're assigned to, what their status is.

Best of all, you can add comments at any time to your own report, or someone
elses.  You can add attachments - sample stacks, crash logs, etc.   Chime in
with your related repro case, or the fix you've come up with.  Comment on
the resolution.  Even re-open the bug if you think it shouldn't have been
resolved.

EG take a look at 
<http://www.runrev.com/revolution/developers/bugdatabase/show_bug.cgi?id=83>

for an example where two users are able to have a correspondence directly
with the engineer addressing the issue: trackable, controlled, unable to
just run dry and be forgotten.

I think this is a fantastic way to manage development especially of a
product which has dedicated developer users.  The fact that RunRev have
opened it to all comers (in its first incarnation it was open only to users
with a 'professional' license) is in my opinion a great sign of maturity and
confidence in their product, and of commitment to their users.  _And_ a
great reason for us to be cheerful about the continuing development of the
product.
 
  Ben Rubinstein               |  Email: benr_mc at cogapp.com
  Cognitive Applications Ltd   |  Phone: +44 (0)1273-821600
  http://www.cogapp.com        |  Fax  : +44 (0)1273-728866