GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 167119
Module selection in enter bug is difficult to use
Last modified: 2005-12-19 18:06:04 UTC
The default list of modules in http://bugzilla.gnome.org/enter_bug.cgi is very difficult to use, even for someone familiar with all the modules. One possibility is to only list Desktop and Platform modules present in the current and current - 1 releases by default. Also offer the option of "Software included in older GNOME releases" and "Other software hosted by Gnome.org". This would clean up the list significantly.
I'm a little curious as to why you say it's difficult to use, especially for someone familiar with all the modules. It's alphabetical. You can use typeahead-find to quickly go to the module you want. Also, this is basically what we already do with http://bugzilla.gnome.org/simple-bug-guide.cgi. Since we already have one simplified version, do we want to make another? Maybe we do, but I'd like to understand better why you want it so that we can weigh the trade-offs. (Some examples of tradeoffs: By having both bug entry forms only default to core modules, might it feel like we're treating other modules as second class citizens? Also, since I file bug reports against other modules, I'd find this behavior annoying as it would make enter-bug.cgi harder for me to use--instead of just going to enter-bug.cgi and immediately starting to type the name of the module I want, I'd have to find the appropriate checkboxes or whatever and reload the page again) Thanks.
The simple bug guide is a step forward for new users. However, just because I'm an advanced user shouldn't mean that I get a bad UI. Relying on a find feature to navigate a simple list is not good. Also, it doesn't work for many of the modules do to so many repeated strings. Try searching for the "gtk+" module. I don't agree that having to click one button to access non-Deskop or Platform software is harder to use. Certainly, using a find feature takes at least one click/key-press. I didn't suggest adding checkboxes and no reloading would be required.
A very easy/quick fix is to use categories to break up the single monolithic list: http://acs.pha.jhu.edu/~mccannwj/GNOME/bugzilla/enter_bug.html This is just a quick mockup.
This should be possible (and straightforward) once we get the product classification abilities that come with bugzilla >= 2.19.1. I think it'd be a maintainence nightmare otherwise.
Sweet. Sounds good.
William: First test is at: http://bugzilla-test.gnome.org/enter_bug.cgi (not exactly like your example, but getting there). Some products aren't classified yet ('Unclassified'). Some products might have to move to other sections. Also I think when selecting the 'All' (to see all products) it should show the page like your example. Suggestions welcome. PS: You can use your b.g.o login/pass when it asks for it.
The new bugzilla installation fixes this problem nicely. The "Products you watch" section is a major improvement! The only other suggestion I have is to move the Deprecated section to the end. Maybe the alphabetic sort can be tricked into doing this by using naming it *Deprecated or something?