launchpad +filebug redirect

[David Tombs]

On 09/01/2010 03:00 PM, Philip Muskovac wrote:
> On 09/01/2010 08:59 PM, Philip Muskovac wrote:
>> On 09/01/2010 08:10 PM, Charlie Kravetz wrote:
>>> On Wed, 1 Sep 2010 17:36:46 +0000
>>> Mohammed Amine IL Idrissi <ilidrissiamine at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> People who are not interested in reading text already click the link
>>>> to file a bug immediately, since there is a link to it in
>>>> ReportingBugs. Creating another wiki page would reduce the amount of
>>>> text people would have to read, without removing the instructions for
>>>> those who want to file good bug reports.
>>>> Adding to this, we could tell them to run "ubuntu-bug <package>" where
>>>> <package> is found according to Bugs/FindRightPackage, or to run
>>>> "ubuntu-bug" if they are not sure, and follow the instructions.
>>>
>>>> What would be ideal is that the user follow these steps:
>>>> 1. Run "ubuntu-bug".
>>>> 2. The current window opens, but with two more options: "Application
>>>> problem" and "Specific package problem (advanced)".
>>>> 2a. Choosing "Application problem" will open a window where you can
>>>> drag-and-drop an application from the menu.
>>>> 2b. Choosing "Specific package problem" will show a text entry where
>>>> the user can type the package name.
>>>> 3. If the user still can't know the specific problem, an alert shows
>>>> and warns him that filing a bug without a package is not recommended,
>>>> with a checkbox named: "This bug is about an application that needs
>>>> packaging".
>>>
>>>> Thank you,
>>>> Mohamed Amine IL Idrissi
>>>
>>>> On Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 5:23 PM, Krzysztof Klimonda <kklimonda at ubuntu.com> wrote:
>>>>> On Wed, 2010-09-01 at 17:13 +0000, Mohammed Amine IL Idrissi wrote:
>>>>>> Maybe we could redirect them to another wiki page that explains that
>>>>>> this is not the recommended way to report a bug, and then give them a
>>>>>> link to file a bug anyway, and a link to ReportingBugs.
>>>>>
>>>>> But that would defeat the purpose of ReportingBug page as most visitors
>>>>> wouldn't ever read it but click the link to file a bug immediately.
>>>>> People who have problems are not interested in reading text, they just
>>>>> want to get their it fixed. Unfortunately this way they file low quality
>>>>> reports that make our work harder and most of us are not full-time bug
>>>>> triagers. We already get more reports we can really deal with (i.e.
>>>>> triage and fix in stable release) anyway.
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>  KK
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Ubuntu-bugsquad mailing list
>>>>> Ubuntu-bugsquad at lists.ubuntu.com
>>>>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugsquad
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> So, even though we already have the link, and people don't bother
>>> reading, you suggest another wiki page to further complicate their
>>> desire to file bad bugs? We already tell them the recommended way to
>>> file the bug, if they ignore that, why make it easier to ignore?
>>>
>>
>> The link at the top was added recently:
>> 140  	2010-08-07 10:57:04  	11547  	 	oCean_  	Mention the no-redirect
>> url at top
>> from the launchpad page oCean_ seems to be a new user, does anyone know
>> him? I don't like the link being at the top either.
>>
>> Also, as I already wrote: the reporting guidelines at the +filebug page
>> originally only required the user to add the application package if
>> possible, the app version and the ubuntu release they're running. Many
>> happily ignored that, so why do you think they would actually stop
>> filing the bug there and click themselves through like a dozen windows
>> for a kernel report? I seriously doubt they would do that.
>>
>> As for needs-packaging. The official documentation for that [1] has a
>> link that uses ?no-redirect and adds the tag to the bug. Why don't
>> people use that? You can file bugs with gpg signed mails too btw which
>> would be another easy way to file those IMO.
>>
> 
> Actually add the reference -.-
> 
> [1] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuDevelopment/NewPackages
> 

Well, I did not mean to start such a big discussion here; I don't think
the problem is /that/ bad, so I don't think it needs a complex solution. :)

To clarify my problem statement, the Reporting Bugs howto just has too
much header material. You have:

1) Some BOLD text which catches your eye, possibly unrelated to the
reason you came to the page.
2) A redundant "Reporting bugs" header, which further emphasizes the
awkwardness of the bold text.
3) A reasonable intro.
4) Note 1 -- more distraction.
5) Note 2 -- and more distraction.

This is just not user-friendly. A smattering of notes and distractions
just obfuscates the real information on the page and makes it less
useful. Perhaps you don't agree with me, but in both my personal and
professional life I have found this to be true.

If changing launchpad would be too hard, the idea of an alternative
redirect page makes a lot of sense to me. How about the following content:

-------
Since you've ended up on this page, you were probably trying to file a
bug about Ubuntu in Launchpad. Although filing directly on Launchpad
used to be an acceptable method of reporting a bug, using tools built-in
to your Ubuntu system is now recommended. Please see
[[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs|Reporting Bugs]] for
instructions.

Thank you for your cooperation.
-------

Disagreements welcome, but please explain why this idea would be
inferior to the status quo. Thanks!

Regards,
David