mirror of https://github.com/zulip/zulip.git
158 lines
8.2 KiB
Markdown
158 lines
8.2 KiB
Markdown
# Reporting bugs
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There are several ways to report bugs (or possible bugs) you encounter in Zulip:
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- If you have a concrete bug report with steps to reproduce the behavior, [file an
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issue](#filing-a-github-issue) in the appropriate GitHub repository.
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- If you are not sure whether the issue you encountered is a bug, or how to
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reproduce it, [start a
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conversation](#starting-a-conversation-about-a-possible-bug) in the Zulip
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development community.
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- To report a possible security issue, contact Zulip's security team at
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[security@zulip.com](mailto:security@zulip.com). _Do not_ report security issues
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publicly (in GitHub or in the Zulip development community). We create a CVE for
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every security issue in our released software.
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- If reporting a bug requires sharing private details about your
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organization, email [support@zulip.com](mailto:support@zulip.com).
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No matter where you report the bug, please follow the instructions below for
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what to include in a bug report.
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## What to include in a bug report
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1. **Describe** what you were expecting to see, what you saw instead, and steps
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that may help others reproduce the surprising behavior you experienced.
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Include screenshots and/or screen captures (see [recommended
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tools](../tutorials/screenshot-and-gif-software.md)) if they help
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communicate what you are describing, but avoid posting long videos.
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1. **Indicate the [version](https://zulip.com/help/view-zulip-version)** of the
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Zulip app where you encountered the bug. It may also be helpful to note your
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operating system, whether you are using the web app or the desktop app, and
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your browser if using the web app.
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## Filing a GitHub issue
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Filing a GitHub issue works best when:
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- You are confident that the behavior you encountered is a bug, not some quirk
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of how a feature works that may turn out to be intentional.
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- You can describe clearly what you were expecting to see, and what you saw instead.
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- You can provide steps for someone else to reproduce the issue you encountered.
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This is important for developers to be able to fix the bug, and test that
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their fix worked.
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If all of the above accurately describe your situation, please file an issue!
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Otherwise, we recommend [starting a
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conversation](#starting-a-conversation-about-a-possible-bug) in the Zulip
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development community so that the problem you encountered can be discussed
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interactively.
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Steps and best practices for filing a GitHub issue:
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1. Report the issue in the **appropriate [Zulip
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repository](https://github.com/zulip)**. The most commonly used repositories
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are:
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- [zulip/zulip](https://github.com/zulip/zulip/issues) for issues with the
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Zulip web app or server. A good default if you aren't sure which repository
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to use.
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- [zulip/zulip-mobile](https://github.com/zulip/zulip-mobile/issues) for
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issues with the mobile apps.
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- [zulip/zulip-desktop](https://github.com/zulip/zulip-desktop/issues) for
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issues that are specific to the Zulip desktop app, and therefore _do not_
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occur in the web app.
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- [zulip/zulip-terminal](https://github.com/zulip/zulip-terminal/issues) for
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issues with the terminal app.
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2. Do a **quick search** of the repository to see if your issue has already
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been filed. If it has, you can add a comment if that seems helpful.
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3. If you are aware of a related discussion in the Zulip development community,
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please **cross-link** between the issue and the discussion thread. [Link to a
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specific
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message](https://zulip.com/help/link-to-a-message-or-conversation#get-a-link-to-a-specific-message)
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in the discussion thread, as message links will still work even if the topic is
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renamed or resolved.
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To encourage prompt attention and discussion for a bug report you have filed,
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you can send a message in the Zulip development community with the key points
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from your report. Be sure to [link to the GitHub
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issue](https://zulip.com/development-community/#linking-to-github-issues-and-pull-requests).
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See the following section for advice on where and how to start the conversation.
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## Starting a conversation about a possible bug
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If you are not sure whether the issue you encountered is a bug, or how to
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reproduce it, we highly recommend reporting it in the [Zulip development
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community](https://zulip.com/development-community/). It's the best place to
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interactively discuss your problem.
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Steps and best practices for starting a conversation:
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1. [**Join** the Zulip development
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community](https://zulip.com/development-community/) if you don't already
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have an account.
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2. Pick an **appropriate channel** to report your issue:
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- [#issues](https://chat.zulip.org/#narrow/channel/9-issues) for issues with
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the Zulip web app or server. Use this channel if you aren't sure which
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channel is most appropriate.
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- [#mobile](https://chat.zulip.org/#narrow/channel/48-mobile) for issues with
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the mobile apps.
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- [#desktop](https://chat.zulip.org/#narrow/channel/16-desktop) for issues
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that are specific to the Zulip desktop app, and therefore _do not_
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occur in the web app.
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- [#zulip-terminal](https://chat.zulip.org/#narrow/channel/206-zulip-terminal)
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for issues with the terminal app.
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- [#production
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help](https://chat.zulip.org/#narrow/channel/31-production-help) for issues
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related to self-hosting Zulip. See the [troubleshooting
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guide](../production/troubleshooting.md) for additional details.
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3. **[Start a new topic](https://zulip.com/help/introduction-to-topics#how-to-start-a-new-topic)**
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for discussing your issue, using a brief summary of the issue as the name of
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the topic.
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If you aren't sure where to post or how to name your topic, don't worry!
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Moderators can always rename the topic, or move the thread to another channel.
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Once a possible bug is reported, members of the development community will jump
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in to discuss whether the report constitutes a bug, how to reproduce it, and how
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it can be resolved. The initial reporter can help by monitoring the discussion
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and replying to any follow-up questions. If the report is determined to be a
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reproducible bug, a GitHub issue will be filed to keep track of it (see below).
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## Managing bug reports
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This section describes our process for managing bugs. All community members are
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encouraged to help make sure this process runs smoothly, whether or not they
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originally reported the bug.
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Whenever a bug is tracked in GitHub and also discussed in the development
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community, be sure to cross-link between the issue and the conversation. [Link
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to a specific
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message](https://zulip.com/help/link-to-a-message-or-conversation#get-a-link-to-a-specific-message)
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in the discussion thread, as message links will still work even if the topic is
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renamed or resolved.
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- If you encounter a definite bug with a clear reproducer and significant user
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impact, it is best to both file a GitHub issue and immediately start a
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discussion in the development community. This helps us address important
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issues as quickly as possible.
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- For minor bugs (e.g., a visual glitch in a settings menu for very long channel
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names), filing a GitHub issue is sufficient.
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- If a potential bug discussed in the development community is confirmed to be
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an actual, reproducible bug, anyone can help out by filing a GitHub issue to
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track it:
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- In some cases, especially if we're planning to fix the issue right away, the
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GitHub issue description can simply quote and link to a message from the
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discussion in the development community -- no need to stress over making it
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perfect.
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- [Use Zulipbot](../contributing/zulipbot-usage.md) to add the appropriate
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labels, including “bug” and at least one area label; leave a comment on
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the issue if you don't know what area labels to use.
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- You can add the “help wanted” label (and claim the issue if you like) if
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that is appropriate based on the discussion. Note that sometimes we won't
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mark a reproducible bug as “help wanted” for various reasons. For example,
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we might want a core contributor to take it on, or the fix might be planned
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as part of a larger project.
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- Don't forget to cross-link between the issue and the discussion.
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- If a bug report in GitHub is not sufficiently clear, Zulip maintainers will
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often encourage the reporter to discuss it interactively in the development
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community.
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