Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 79633
Make it eaiser to use the issue tracker
Last modified: 2013-02-07 22:42:17 UTC
I understand that OOo developers have limited resources, so they need a certain type of setup for the issue tracker (i.e. people can't just email a list of suggestions for them to sort out). However, the current system is not as user-friendly as it could be, and a different/modified system could make it easier to get into the issue tracker, categorize the issue, search for issues, etc. The reason this is so important is that the current system makes it so difficult that only the most tenacious will be able to give their suggestions. This turns off users who like the program but want a few changes, and it really is bad for the developers, because they will not get all the feedback they should. My proposal is to adopt a SourceForge.net tracker. Inkscape's bug and feature trackers are good examples. With those trackers, for example, you can enter the tracker site with a single click (off of the inkscape.org site), ANYONE can enter an issue (even those who don't have, or don't want to make, accounts), it is intuitive and quick to enter searches for similar issues, and for things where it could be confusing or difficult to categorize it, there is a "none" or "other" option. With that, everybody can input their suggestions. And it is also easier to enter an issue. Whereas this tracker has all the distracting elements (such as the unhelpful help buttons at the left), the SourceForge tracker Inkscape uses is just clean and shows what you need to enter the issue. IMO, Inkscape's method makes it easier for both users and developers navigate the tracker.
Also, it is often difficult to find what you are looking for (such as the link to enter a new issue); you have to look in places that the eye wouldn't 'naturally' go. Switching to SourceForge should fix this, but some web designers could fix it up.
It is painful to use it. Standard search gives no sorting, no information on OO component, version, or OS. There is no link from simple search to advanced, so at first I didn`t assume it exists. Advanced search is much overcomplicated. I Voting for issues always shows lots of unused rows.