Page MenuHomePhabricator

Make bug submission interface less confusing
Closed, DeclinedPublic

Description

Author: Zero1328

Description:
I had to go ask for help on how to submit a feature request(not a bug report) in
the IRC channel. The interface is quite confusing and intimidating.


Version: unspecified
Severity: enhancement
URL: http://bugzilla.wikimedia.org

Details

Reference
bz6914

Event Timeline

bzimport raised the priority of this task from to Medium.Nov 21 2014, 9:16 PM
bzimport set Reference to bz6914.
bzimport added a subscriber: Unknown Object (MLST).

rotemliss wrote:

What do you suggest instead?

Zero1328 wrote:

The simplest way is to simply write some documentation on how to use the form. I
don't really understand what half of the form does, simpler english would help.
Somthing like "Feature request" instead of "enhancement" and such. I also felt
it was odd to have feature request and bug reporting using the same form.

ayg wrote:

Well, if you aren't sure what something means, you're supposed to follow the
links to the explanatory pages that list the meaning of the option. But
granted, it's still very confusing how feature requests are called bugs. It
might be a good idea to tweak the interface to replace "bug" with "bug report or
feature request", or just "request", where appropriate.

If we assume newbies are only going to be searching and filing bugs, not doing
anything fancy like entering bug numbers to go directly to, then just replacing
"Search bugs" with "Search requests" and "Enter a new bug" with "Report a
bug/request a feature" should be okay. And add a note at the top of the
submission field saying something like "If you don't understand an option, don't
worry, just ignore it".

This is a usability issue with Bugzilla. It should be reported upstream (http://www.bugzilla.org/developers/reporting_bugs.html).