6 easy bug tracking tips & tricks every developer should know!

6 EASY BUG TRACKING HACKS FROM

@tompeham I @usersnap

WHEN IT COMES TO TRACKING BUGS….

…THERE’S NOT MUCH FUN.

BUT IT CAN BE FUN! PROMISED!

BUT BEFORE WE DIVE INTO IT…

WHAT IS BUG TRACKING REALLY ABOUT?

According to Technopedia:

“Bug tracking is a process used by quality assurance personnel and programmers to keep track of software problems and resolutions.”

HERE’S HOW TO MAKE BUG TRACKING MORE FUN!

1. RELEASE EARLY, RELEASE OFTEN.

Release early, release often.

Ever been annoyed of an open bug which has been filed a couple of months, maybe years ago?

Even worse, an open bug which hasn’t been evaluated by anyone?

Release early, release often.

Release fast, release often is a philosophy in software development which focuses on early and frequent releases by creating a tight feedback look between developers and testers.

2. CREATE ROOM FOR COMMUNICATION

Room for communication.

Reporting bugs requires the ability to identify relevant information which needs to be added to every bug report.

Modern bug tracking tools (like Usersnap) offer the ability to attach this needed information automatically.

Room for communication.

However: There always will be some room for misunderstanding or missing information which results in a need for communication.

Questions to answer.

• Who are the testers and developers in charge?

• How can I get in touch with the testers/developers in charge?

• What kind of communication takes place in my bug tracking system and which does not?

• Is it alright to ask for feedback via phone/email/chat messenger?

3. KEEP IT ONE-ON-ONE

Keep it one-on-one.

Never ever discuss bugs in a project meeting! Don’t get me wrong.

There’s nothing bad about working together on reproducing and fixing bugs. It’s even highly appreciated.

Keep it one-on-one.

Do not discuss bugs (Is it really a bug?, Do we have to fix this bug?, etc.) in lengthy meeting with your entire project team.

4. AVOID PERSONAL OPINIONS

Avoid opinions – focus on solutions.

Tracking bugs means that some problem or discrepancy to the defined requirements has been identified by the bug reporter.

Avoid opinions – focus on solutions.

Do not add opinions or comments like “I think I had a similar issue a couple of weeks ago” to your bug reports.

Use your chat tool (or email) for exchanging opinions – but not your bug reports.

5. AGREE WHAT A CLOSED BUG REPORT MEANS.

Agree what a closed bug report means.

Take a look at the meaning of “closed”. In most dev teams a bug is closed by the developer who fixed the bug.

I’d like to recommend closing the bug report by the person who reported the bug.

6. ONLY USE 2 STATUSES: OPEN & CLOSED.

Open & closed.

In 99% of all use cases there is no need to use further statuses like untriaged or started.

While the bug report is still “open” it doesn’t really matter how big the progress of the developer is.

QUESTIONS?

PING ME ON TWITTER @TOMPEHAM

THOMAS PEHAM

@tompeham

Marketing at Usersnap

[email protected]

Image credits: photopin.com