[%# The contents of this file are subject to the Mozilla Public # License Version 1.1 (the "License"); you may not use this file # except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of # the License at http://www.mozilla.org/MPL/ # # Software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS # IS" basis, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or # implied. See the License for the specific language governing # rights and limitations under the License. # # The Original Code is the Bugzilla Bug Tracking System. # # The Initial Developer of the Original Code is Netscape Communications # Corporation. Portions created by Netscape are # Copyright (C) 1998 Netscape Communications Corporation. All # Rights Reserved. # # Contributor(s): Stefan Seifert # Gervase Markham # Emma Humphries #%] [% PROCESS global/header.html.tmpl title = "Bugzilla Etiquette" style = "#bugzilla-body li { margin: 5px } .heading { font-weight: bold }" %]

Bugzilla Etiquette

It is our intention that [% terms.Bugzilla %] remain a useful tool for reporting and commenting on [% terms.bugs %], feature requests, and tasks for the Mozilla community. No single contributor's work outweighs the importance of civility and professionalism in the Mozilla community.

In order to keep [%+ terms.Bugzilla %] a useful, inclusive place we have guidelines which, by using this site, you agree to follow. In addition, your participation on this site is also subject to the Mozilla Community Participation Guidelines.

Violations of [% terms.Bugzilla %] Etiquette or the Mozilla Community Participation Guidelines are grounds for curtailing your privileges on this site, or suspending your account altogether.

Guidelines

Commenting

  1. No abusing people. Constant and intense critique is one of the reasons we build great products. It's harder to fall into group-think if there is always a healthy amount of dissent. We want to encourage vibrant debate inside of the Mozilla community, we want you to disagree with us, and we want you to effectively argue your case. However, we require that in the process, you criticize things, not people. Examples of things include: interfaces, algorithms, and schedules. Examples of people include: developers, designers, and users. Attacking or encouraging attacks on a person may result in you being banned from [% terms.Bugzilla %].
  2. No obligation. "Open Source" is not the same as "the developers must do my bidding." Everyone here wants to help, but no one else has any obligation to fix the [% terms.bugs %] you want fixed. Therefore, you should not act as if you expect someone to fix a [% terms.bug %] by a particular date or release. Aggressive or repeated demands will not be received well and will almost certainly diminish the impact of and interest in your suggestions.
  3. No spam. Posting comment spam will lead to the suspension of your account.
  4. No pointless comments. Limit comments on a [% terms.bug %] to information which will help with resolving it. Unless requested, additional "I see this too" or "It works for me" comments are unnecessary. Constructive conversations unrelated to the topic of the [% terms.bug %] should go in the appropriate discussion forum.
  5. No private email. Do not send comments on [% terms.bugs %] by private email to users; no one else can read them if you do that, and they'll be missed and/or ignored. If an attachment is too big for [% terms.Bugzilla %], add a comment giving the file size and contents and ask what to do.

Changing Fields

  1. No messing with other people's [% terms.bugs %]. Unless you are the [% terms.bug %] assignee, or have some say over the use of their time, never change the Priority or Target Milestone fields. If in doubt, do not change the fields of [% terms.bugs %] you do not own — add a comment instead, suggesting the change.
  2. No whining about decisions. If another project contributor has marked a [% terms.bug %] as INVALID, then it is invalid. Filing another duplicate of it does not change this. Unless you have further evidence to support reopening a [% terms.bug %], do not post a comment arguing that a [% terms.bug %] resolved as INVALID or WONTFIX should be reopened.

Responding to Violations

If you find a [% terms.Bugzilla %] user violating the [% terms.Bugzilla %] Etiquette or the Mozilla Community Participation Guidelines in comments on [% terms.bugs %], please tag the comments in question so that an administrator can review them.

If a comment is abusive or threatening use the tag abuse. An admin will receive a notification shortly and be able to follow up. [% terms.Bugs %] with comments marked, 'offtopic', 'spam', and 'advocacy' will also be reviewed.

If you think a comment may violate our policies, but your are not sure how to mark it, tag the comment admin and a moderator will review it.

If a [% terms.bug %]'s short-description, whiteboard tags, attachments, or user-created content other than comments that violate the Mozilla Community Participation Guidelines or [% terms.Bugzilla %] Etiquette, please describe the issue in a comment and tag that comment admin.

If you cannot tag comments (which requires editbugs privileges,) or if you need to contact a [% terms.Bugzilla %] community administrator urgently:

  • Send email to bmo-mods@mozilla.com with the [% terms.bug %] number and a short description of the situation.
  • If you have IRC you may also contact the on-duty staff member in the #bmo channel on irc.mozilla.org. The on-duty staff member's IRC handle is in the channel's topic.

If the content of a user's name field contains abusive or offensive content, contact a moderator at bmo-mods@mozilla.com.

See Also

The [% terms.Bug %] Writing Guidelines.

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