** Bug Posting Guidelines **

Mr. Tee · Post by **Mr. Tee** » Wed May 19, 2004 2:18 pm

1. The title shouldn't just say "Bug" or "Crash", it should take the form of:
[ZDoom_Version] Effect : Possible_Cause

Here are some examples:
[2.5.0] Bug : Backpack messes up number of custom items
[2.4.1] Crash : Decorate actors using A_Custom Missle
[2.4.0] Total Lockup : Dividing by zero in ACS scripts

Always use the latest version you observed the bug in as your version number. Tags like "HEAD", "Latest", "Since forever" are completely useless. If you have a previous version number that you now worked, feel free to include it inside the report as well.

2. Please attach the 'CrashReport.zip' that is saved in the event of a crash.

3. If you experience a bug or crash with a custom WAD/PK3 file, please try one of the following:

Attach the WAD/PK3 file to the bug report post if the file is small enough
Post a link to a download location for that WAD/PK3 file if possible
Upload the WAD/PK3 file to a file-sharing host yourself and post the link (do not use non-permanent hosts like Rapidshare, MediaFire, etc...)

3a. If a feature is not working correctly, providing a fully functional file for testing purposes will increase the likelihood that your bug will be investigated in a timely manner.

For example, if you are using a DECORATE function and it isn't working the way it should, you should include a fully-functional test wad or pk3 and not just an excerpt from your DECORATE code. Similarly, if something is not working in TEXTURES, provide an example wad or pk3 with a TEXTURES definition that illustrates the problem and the necessary graphics. Do the same for any other features.

4. Only post bugs and crashes for the most recent version of GZDoom (i.e. not Zandronum, ZDoomGL, or anything else). You may also want to check with a recent development build to see if this bug has already been fixed.

If the bug is for Zandronum, that has its own tracker: http://zandronum.com/tracker/my_view_page.php

5. If you post a bug for a self-compiled SVN version, please try to gather some information in the debugger yourself. Crash logs for such builds are of no use.

6. Do not send bug reports as private messages to the developers. These will most likely be ignored without investigation.

7. Please don't use the Report Post button to flag duplicates. Bump the thread instead, because the devs don't check the Moderator Control Panel and moderators prefer that Reports be used for posts that break the community rules.

Post by **Graf Zahl** » Wed May 19, 2004 2:24 pm

These are some really useful guidelines which should be stuck in a sticky thread at the top of the bugs forum. I think this is a response to the latest useless bug report from today, right?

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Wed May 19, 2004 2:51 pm

Sounds good to me, although I'd put the version number first to make it easier to sort out old vs new bugs in a search...

Csonicgo · Post by **Csonicgo** » Wed May 19, 2004 4:59 pm

Graf Zahl wrote:These are some really useful guidelines which should be stuck in a sticky thread at the top of the bugs forum. I think this is a response to the latest useless bug report from today, right?

I was in a hurry, and it was on my mum's computer, so I couldn't stay on long after the crash.

QBasicer · Post by **QBasicer** » Thu May 20, 2004 4:30 am

Why limit it just to ZDoom information? What about system? Windows Version? Processor? Ram? Sound card? Video?

It all effects the way ZDoom runs.

Post by **Graf Zahl** » Thu May 20, 2004 4:46 am

It depends on the bug whether this is necessary. For obvious gameplay bugs this really isn't necessary. For crashes it should be included, though.

Lexus Alyus · Post by **Lexus Alyus** » Thu May 20, 2004 5:20 am

If you just use the basic title suggestion that Mr Tee suggested and then, if it's relevent, stick the OS, computer specs, etc... in the actual post. This would keep the title reletively short, yet still important, and any additional information is contained within the post.

Good work Mr Tee

.

Post by **Xaser** » Thu May 20, 2004 4:23 pm

Go Mr. Tee! I hope this helps out alot!

Heh. I never knew a Cajun Bot could be so helpful (no offense).

BouncyTEM · Post by **BouncyTEM** » Sun May 23, 2004 7:44 pm

This is EXACTLY what the Bugs forum needed. I waited for something like this...

Giest118 · Post by **Giest118** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 12:06 pm

Perhaps another guideline should be posted saying that you should probably attempt to reproduce that crash/bug before posting it... 'cause if you can't reproduce it, then it's probably just a one-time thing that you'll never see again.

Post by **Graf Zahl** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 12:09 pm

No. Even one time crashes may point Randy to a potential problem.

I once had a strange crash in one of my programs which I was unable to reproduce but investigation got me to a very serious error that only rarely resulted in a crash but could also silently destroy data.

Csonicgo · Post by **Csonicgo** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 9:47 pm

I get crashes every day like that.... maybe I SHOULD POST THEM.

Mr. Tee · Post by **Mr. Tee** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 12:48 pm

Teh new guidelines... Simpler, and closer to the style most people like to bugs in.

Happy Holidays,
Merry ZDooming!

Janizdreg · Post by **Janizdreg** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:56 pm

I second that the title form recommended in the first guideline should be [ZDoom_Version] Effect : Possible_Cause. Most people seem to use it already anyway.

doom2day · Post by **doom2day** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 3:02 pm

giest118 wrote:Perhaps another guideline should be posted saying that you should probably attempt to reproduce that crash/bug before posting it... 'cause if you can't reproduce it, then it's probably just a one-time thing that you'll never see again.

If someone knows how to reproduce a bug then that would be useful