Apolitically Incorrect » Filing Bugs for Time Drive or LyX-Outline

Even though software developers try and create a perfect product, every program has its flaws. These can be show stopping, or merely annoying; but they are unavoidable. Even so, unavoidability doesn’t mean that they should be tolerated. Which is where users bear some responsibility. If you want a better program, you need to provide feedback to the developer.

Given how important feedback is, I find it hugely ironic that many of the software programs used to solicit such feedback (called bugtrackers), are horrifically difficult to use. Perhaps the single best (worst?) example is the system used by the Mozilla foundation (famed creators of Firefox and Thunderbird): Bugzilla. The interface is backward, it’s impossible to find anything, and getting to the same page twice requires a minor miracle.

Knowing this upfront, I tried to find a very easy to use program for collecting feedback on LyX-Outline and Time Drive. And I thought I had succeeded when I came across Flyspray, an open source bug tracking system. While still remaining powerful, Flyspray is fairly easy to use for both developers and users. Unfortunately, though, it hasn’t been quite easy enough.

You see, even though it’s pretty simple to open a new bug report, getting to the right place isn’t the most intuitive process in the world. A number of people have expressed confusion about where to go to complain about Time Drive. As a result, I thought i would write a brief guide.

Step 1: Go to the Bug Tracker Website

To get started, you need to head to the Time Drive and LyX-Outline bug tracker website. It can be found at:

http://www.oak-tree.us/bugtracker

Step 2: Go to the Appropriate Project Page

When you load the page for the first time, you will see a list of the currently open bugs for all active projects. Depending how busy I’ve been, this list could be quite long, or quite short. What you won’t find on this page, however, is an easy way to add new bugs. To do that, you’ll need to navigate to the project specific page.

The main window lacks any way of providing feedback. This is because you are in the wrong place.

Look at the very left hand side of the tool-bar. Underneath the username box, you will see a drop down list that says “All Projects.” This magical list is the main way that you navigate my Flyspray based bugtracking system.

Select the appropriate project from the list and click "Switch" For example, let’s say that Time Drive just corrupted your vacation photos and you want me to know this and how angry it made you. To communicate these thoughts (bonus points if you can do so without swearing), you need to go to the Time Drive project page. This is as easy as clicking on the down arrow and choosing “Time Drive” from the options. After you change the option, it is likely the page will refresh, and the main navigation menu will change. (Though on some browsers, most notably Opera, you will need to click the “Switch” button.)

Now, instead of the utterly boring, “Overview” and “Tasklist” options, you should be presented with a slightly more exciting menu. This includes the options to take a look at the “Roadmap” and more importantly, “Open a new Task anonymously.”

Step 3: Complain Loudly, Thoroughly and Convincingly

Once you are on the correct project page, you will be able to take a look at the project overview, browse the roadmap, or file your bug report.

This is where you need to complain. Tell me exactly what you think of me, my creations, and my professionalism. Rant about how Time Drive corrupted your carefully maintained comic book collection, or how LyX-Outline destroyed your thesis. This information is important, it helps me to improve the programs. And getting it off your chest might help you too. Nothing is more soothing than a good rant. Especially when the person on the other end really wants your input.

Squeaky wheels tend to greased. Thus, consider this positing as my official permission to squeak. But to be most effective, you need to make your noise in a place where it will get noticed. For Time Drive and LyX-Outline, this happens to be at their respective project pages.

4 Responses to “Filing Bugs for Time Drive or LyX-Outline”

Tyler wrote a comment on August 23, 2009

Though I don't actually use the service for my own projects, http://lighthouseapp.com has seemed pretty sane to me, for the projects I've seen use it. And if I'm remembering a demo I saw once, people can easily submit patches, and others can easily use the patches before you officially release them (if you integrate them at all). I believe you need to be using git for that, though.

It costs money, and it looks like you've figured things out. So I may have just wasted your time if you read this. Sorry if I did.

Vince Kimball wrote a comment on August 23, 2009

Can you add to a bug report? Apparently not.

I managed to open a bug but think I found the problem so I want to add to it. The software doesn't seem to allow that.

Rob Oakes wrote a comment on August 24, 2009

@Tyler. Thanks for the heads up. I'll take a look at it. My needs are really simple, as a result, the free account might be a tremendously good fit. Though I think that Flyspray is a good tracking system, getting it set up and configured has been a headache. It would also be great if Flyspray had integration with either Subversion, git, Bazaar or another version control system.

An alternative that I've been looking at seriously is Launchpad (https://launchpad.net/). I've started experimenting with the Bazaar version control system and discovered that I really quite like it. (It's much easier to use than git, which was my last great adventure into subversion alternatives. Complete and epic disaster.) Even better, it interoperates spectacularly with SVN. This means that I can keep my main subversion server and the Launchpad up to date with relative ease. A couple of people have contacted me and would like to collaborate on my two little side projects. Seems like the perfect way to test out different collaboration platforms. I've already posted the Time Drive source code on Launchpad and I am in the process of posting the LyX-Outline source.

@Vince: The preferences for the bugtracker website (http://www.oak-tree.us/blog) have been updated so that anyone with a user account can open, modify and comment on bugs. It's pretty easy to set up an account, just click on the "register" link of the website and enter in some very basic information.