Guide: Bug Reporting

[MadK@]

Over half the bug reports on the Bug Tracker are at a stalemate due to lack of information and no contact.
So I am noting this simple check list that will hopefully help process Avlis bugs at a faster rate.

• The aim of a bug report is to let the developer be aware of the fault. If you unable to grab a developer to show them what goes wrong, it is imperitive you provide sufficient steps for the developer to reproduce the fault for themselves.
• Describe everything that went wrong in detail. This includes what happened, and also what you expected to happen. Fill in all the fields of the tracker report to the best of your knowledge.
• When possible write down the server error messages, keep logs or take a screen shot of the error.
• Don't bug report angry. Take a moment to calm yourself if you are frustrated, the error will still be there when you return.
• Diagnose the fault yourself if you think you can, but if you do, you should still report the symptoms as well.
• Write clearly. Say what you mean, and make sure it can't be misinterpreted.
• Although the bug tracker can be anonymous, registering on Javaforge is free. If you dont want to register it helps significantly if you provide contact information in your bug report.
• Be ready to provide extra information if the developer contacts you.

Some entirely made up examples:

Bad

My pc went through a transition in Deglos and there was no way to return.

Good

Area name: Southwestern Plains
Problem: Area transition broken.

Description:
The northern transition in the area named Southwestern Plains lead me to an area named "A small cave". When I went to exit the cave I found the transition to be broken.

Forum name: JaneDoe
Character name: Jane Doe

Do this for me and my bug team will love bug squishing a whole lot more.

[Cromagnon]

Thanks for the guidelines, MadK@.

I have a question you could clarify: Very often we see (or I have posted) posts of "Is this a bug; should I report this?"
Would you prefer that we log every thing we think is a bug but aren't sure (thereby potentially multiplying the number of "not a bug" issues), or would you rather we run it through the forum for guidance first?

[MadK@]

Absolutely. If in doubt report it. The worse that can happen is the bug gets confirmation and closed so don't hold back.

[MadK@]

*bump*

[szabot]

Please use the bug tracker.

I have come across many examples on forums and IRC lately of people talking about bugs, and yet I don't see reports of those bugs on the bug tracker. Sadly, those bugs are often mentioned as having been around a while.

If bugs are not reported, they are very unlikely to get fixed!

[MadK@]

Please please please try and follow the guide to good bug reporting.
If you don't give enough information then you may as well have not bug reported at all.

[Grunt]

Bump, with a request:

Sign up for the bug tracker or leave your character/Gamespy ID in your bug reports

This is quite important when you find "something weird happened", so we can track it down.

Thanks!

[kthxbye]

Heh, it was me. Sorted out on IRC.
For the ones who could do the same mistake as me: the boards and the bug tracer are NOT related, so you have to create another account there and use that one.

[jaythespacehound]

Bump because I just proved bugs are evil:

[Gorgon]

Note the 200 beside it and keep on reporting them

[Tony Wazz]

Okay, I recently reported a bug, but I had a hard time figuring out how. Not that it's complicated , but the link on the page was not super obvious, along with the color scheme..it was like normal text size and not in the most "Tony, click here" kinda spot.

Soo..for other Tony's like me, can we get maybe a screenie walkthrough? Kinda like at work when I have to teach something computer related...I screenshot, add comment ( Like "click here"), then do a screenie and add comment ( Like "type stuff here"). The good thing about this is that even my older 60+ crowd can do stuff on these 'new fangled computers'....the bad part is that I'm growing more into the "it's not hitting me in the mouse, so I don't see it" mode. Yes, MadK@ can beat me up for the idea and extra work I cause...

*hugs*

[Gorgon]

Click the bug tracker link at the top of every forum page, then click new issue. Select any appropriate pull down options you know and type the bug. Remember to say who you are if you don't want to create a JavaForge account, so the fixers can pester you for more info too!

More info is better, and no one is gonna complain if you write a novel about it. Using the filter items input box to search for something already submitted would save a duplicate bug report, but reporting is the big thing. If you want to add to an existing bug report, hit the comment tab at the bottom and add one (did I mention saying who you are when you do? ).

*edits* Best I could do for a quick how to. JavaForge must have a nice how to guide for easy bug reporting around somewhere we can dig up.

*edits again* https://codebeamer.com/cb/wiki/11105#se ... +New+Issue That'll probably confuse people more, but those are the instructions when you dig around the help stuff.

[Tony Wazz]

The 'submit new' issue needs to be something people can see. It's hanging out low, like it's afraid to be clicked.

[kthxbye]

I was fiddling with the craft menu and noticed a "Log report" option. Didn't know what it was.. Now I do. Please disregard the log submitted by character Evelynn (gsid chibilinus) today 14/06 @ ~09:25 GMT

[MadK@]

I was fiddling with the craft menu and noticed a "Log report" option. Didn't know what it was.. Now I do. Please disregard the log submitted by character Evelynn (gsid chibilinus) today 14/06 @ ~09:25 GMT

I really should remove that as it isn't working. No harm done.

[Kandi_Nulein]

I'd like to report a bug about the Custom Trapcrafting thing but the "submit new" appears to be missing. Has something changed with the system, do I now need some sort of log in?

As an aside. The system atm doesn't work. I was on Mikona a few minutes ago and the system says I've succeeded at masterful level, yet it doesn't take any materials or give you a trap. Checked all levels of all menu options and the DCs are all set to 5.

I've managed to make standard traps last week but am eager to try the new stuff. It has been released right?

[Gorgon]

It is the "New Bug" link now.



Visual aids to the rescue!

Remember to toss the core topic of your bug in the "Filter..." box and hit enter before submitting, and it will show any open bugs that use the same words. In other words, search to see if someone has already reported the bug before submitting a duplicate one.

*edits* If a bug report already exists, please do add a comment about anything else you ran across about it. More info is always good, even if it is only about it being on another server. The smallest detail can make a big difference in figuring out a problem sometimes.

*edits a second time* It looks like you must log in to file a bug report now. I'm not sure if that is intentional, but MadK@ can confirm either way. You really should anyways. We just want a way to contact you, so you can make up whatever info you want when creating the account.

[Darkfire]

BUMP.




have a nice day.