[Python-Dev] The Meaning of Resolotion (Re: bug tracker permissions request)

[Terry Reedy]

On 4/27/2010 5:14 PM, "Martin v. Löwis" wrote:
>> The page doesn't document the Resolution or Status fields.
>
> The resolutions are the same as the ones on SourceForge.

They no longer have to be (see below). In any case, the meanings should 
be independently documented here for people not currently using SF.

> You only have resolutions on closed issues,

Only for 'closed' or also for 'pending' and 'languishing'?
If pending were implemented to mean 'auto close in x days', then 
Resolution would need to be set when Status is set to 'pending'.

'Languishing' is new (its first use was two months ago). Is it a form of 
'open' or of 'closed'?

 > and they explain why an issue was closed.

This needs to be explicitly stated in the doc if you want it followed.

In response to my repeating this on the tracker,
bugs.python.org/issue7511
R. David Murray said (in part)
"Some committers have been using 'resolution: accepted' as a way to mark 
issues that are definitely going to be fixed/enhancement added."

This is a different and therefore confusing use of the field and strikes 
me as mostly redundant with the newer Stage field with a value of Needs 
patch or later.

> If any specific one is unclear in that context, please be more specific.

Tarek responded to David's full message "Yes I used 'accepted' to mark 
this issue as something I am working on."

This usage overlaps with 'assigned to'. And he continued

"I am confused about the resolution flag, I think it is a bit 
overlapping with the status flag, and overcomplex."

This *is* overlap Resolution set means Status not open. I agree with the 
over-complex part. There was a discussion here some time ago on the fine 
distinctions, but I am again fuzzy on 'accepted' versus 'fixed', 'later' 
versus 'postponed', and 'invalid' versus 'works for me'. I have no idea 
when 'remind' would be used (it has only been used 8 times).

> For languishing, click on the label "Status" left of the field.

I never noticed this. there are also pop-up boxed for Stage, Priority, 
and Keywords. There should also be a pop-up for Resolution.

And the pop-up tables should also be in the doc.


>> For the Keywords field, the page only documents the "easy" keyword.

There are all documented in the pop-up box, which should be duplicated 
in the doc.

Terry Jan Reedy