I was surprised to read this on https://bugs.freenetproject.org/ :-

"The first step in filing a bug report is a post to the support
mailing list. You must subscribe to post. If you get told it's a bug,
then come back here and file a bug report. When filing, please include
a URL into the mailing list archives so we can easily locate the
original conversations.  This process greatly helps us to help you.
Many "bugs" are actually configuration or comprehension issues that
can be easily and more quickly resolved through the users mailing
list."

I don't agree with this, and its creating a significant hurdle for
people filing bugs.  Its basically using a mailing list as a
first-line bug tracker, something mailing lists aren't optomised for.
We should be using the bugtracker as our bugtracker.

If people are repeatedly running into the same "configuration or
comprehension" issue, then that means there is a usability bug, and it
should absolutely be filed as a bug in Mantis.

If people submit an invalid bug then its as easy as anything to mark
it as invalid in the bugtracker.  Requiring that they post to support
first isn't making life easier for anyone, and it is probably
discouraging quite a few entirely legitimate bug reports.

Ian.

-- 
Email: ian at uprizer.com
Cell: +1 512 422 3588
Skype: sanity

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