[boost] Boost Bug Sprint Proposal

Subject: [boost] Boost Bug Sprint Proposal
From: Marshall Clow (marshall_at_[hidden])
Date: 2009-05-12 23:08:14

A few weeks ago, Doug proposed a "Boost Bug Sprint", modeled on the 
Debian one; to clean up the backlog of bugs, patches and feature 
request that have grown in the Trac system.

We currently have about 800 open issues.

I am proposing that we start on Friday, May 29th and finish on 
Sunday, June 7th.
That gives us a work week and two weekends, making time for both 
people who can work during the week, and those who only have time to 
contribute to boost on the weekends.

I am putting this out for comments:

--- Proposal ---
>What can you do?
>
>1) You can fix bugs.
>* If you are a library author, you can commit changes.
>* If you are not a library author, you can fix a problem on your 
>local machine (and test it!!), and then attach your fix as a patch 
>to the Trac ticket for the library author to commit. If you do this, 
>please provide a test case that exercises the problem; i.e, one that 
>fails w/o your patch, and succeeds afterwards.
>
>2) You can characterize bugs.
>* You can attempt to replicate the bug on your system(s), and attach 
>information that you discover to the Trac ticket. This will make it 
>easier for other people to solve the problem, even if you cannot.
>* You can write test cases demonstrating the problem, and attach 
>them to the Trac ticket.
>* You can determine if the bug still exists; sometimes they get 
>fixed, and the ticket never gets closed.
>
>3) You can test patches.
>* Some of the tickets in the trac system contain patches - some are 
>quite old. You can install these patches on your system, and 
>determine if they (a) build, and (b) work.
>* You can write test cases for the patches, and attach them to the ticket.
>
>4) You can help implement new features.
>* There are a whole set of "feature requests" in the Trac system. If 
>you have an idea about one of these, you can add comments to the 
>trac system. You can attempt to implement these new features, and 
>attach the patch to the ticket. (Don't forget the test cases!!).
>
--- End Proposal ---

Please let me know what you think, and I will post an updated version.
-- 
-- Marshall
Marshall Clow     Idio Software   <mailto:marshall_at_[hidden]>
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
the hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning.
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.