On 30/1/02 4:49 pm, Ben Rubinstein <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: (snip)
Thanks for the very well considered and well written email. I've had similar emails from half a dozen other people privately on this subject, ranking it firmly on my radar given the short length of time it has been in discussion on this list. We are aware of this issue and are already implementing a plan to tackle it. Runtime does use a database system for tracking all reports that come in. Obviously we have to do this - we have a reasonable size team and jotting things down on the back of an envelope or in a text file simply doesn't cut it. As such, the simple solution to this problem is to make that database available to our customers. We are in progress of upgrading this to a new database which will be web accessible. (By in progress, what I mean is that someone on the other side of the room I am sitting in is physically working on this just now.) You will then be able to file reports, search, and see exactly what the state of play is on everything. This solution will have these advantages: - No need for us to spend additional time administering the manual creation of notes. - Our engineering staff can simply press a button to declare something fixed, regardless of where they are in the world. (This will be linked to a new system for the development team to allow anyone to check in and out components automatically.) - The database can optionally produce a document automatically with each release if we get requests for this. We probably won't as people will get used to using it. - No need to respond to duplicate bug reports. Searchable, to prevent you having to prepare and send them. - You can add your vote to a bug that is bothering you to improve its priority. - The ability to search live as bugs are discovered and fixed, without having to wait for the next version with a new document that someone might have forgotten to update. - This list and the database are likely to become customer only features. So we satisfy *all* needs in a way that is better than just a set of notes, and includes negating the drain on resources which Scott helpfully identified (which *is* a very valid concern). The system *improves* our own teams ability to access information, whilst reducing duplicate reports and tech support responses, and of course is only available to paying customers. (And, since you ask, this is a tested and proven 3rd party system, we are not spending our resources on developing the whole system or debugging *it* ;-) BTW, some other useful reorganizations - including enhancements to technical support and the speed we release updates, are also coming soon... Kind regards, Kevin Kevin Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <http://www.runrev.com/> Runtime Revolution Limited - Power to the Developer! Tel: +44 (0) 870 747 1165. Fax: +44 (0)1639 830 707. _______________________________________________ improve-revolution mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/improve-revolution
