[gentoo-dev] Re: Keyword request interface (SoC candidate?)

[Ryan Hill]

Santiago M. Mola wrote:
> A lot of users don't feel comfortable using Bugzilla and often are
> lost with our procedures for keyword (both ~ and stable) requests. I
> think we could use an easy web interface for requesting specific
> keywords for packages in a point-and-click fashion.

Speaking about Bugzilla in general, I think ours could really use a facelift. 
When you look at what some other projects have done to make their bug reporting 
and tracking interface more user-friendly, it's obvious we have a lot of room 
for improvement.  I remember back when I first started using Gentoo seeing a 
mock-up some dev had done for a bugzilla redesign that was much simpler and 
visually appealing, but I can't remember who and I suppose they've probably 
retired since.  I've always thought it was a shame it never saw implementation. 
  Anyways, I think this could make a good project for someone in our community 
who would like to participate but perhaps is more artistic than technical. 
Previous web design work and a good understanding of user interface design would 
be required of course.  I suppose we should probably ask infra if this is 
possible first too. ;)

On keywording/stabilizing, Bugzilla has a flags feature that might be used to 
track what has been tested where.  For example:

   https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=12345

Flags have three states: +, -, and ?.  + and - are obvious, and ? is a request. 
  So imagine having a "x86 tested" flag that the maintainer sets to "?" to 
request stabilization of their package.  An email is sent to the arch alias 
notifying them of the request.  The arch tester tests it out and sets the flag 
to + or - depending on their results.  The arch dev stabilizes the package as 
normal.

If we added a "Keyword/Stable Request" component to the "Gentoo Linux" product 
we could also have it dependent on that, so only bugs in that component would 
display the flags.  We can also make it so only people with editbugs privileges 
and request or set flags.

   http://www.bugzilla.org/docs/2.22/html/flags-overview.html

Again, this would require infra to be on board.


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