[Python-Dev] devguide: Add an intermediate task of helping triage issues (not to be confused with the

[Antoine Pitrou]

On Sat, 08 Jan 2011 23:05:06 +0100
brett.cannon <python-checkins at python.org> wrote:
> +For bugs, an issue needs to:
> +
> +* Clearly explain the bug so it can be reproduced
> +* All relevant platform details are included
> +* What version(s) of Python are affected by the bug are fully known
> +* Is there a proper unit test that can reproduce the bug?
> +
> +These are things anyone can help with.

FWIW, I'm really not fond of handing out triage tasks to beginners.
First because the claim that it doesn't require any specific knowledge
is wrong (in the case of Python, because it is a highly technical
product; it might be right for office suites, who knows).
Second because a newbie triager gets to interact with other newbies who
might be very confused if they are given misleading comments or asked
misleading (or completely irrelevant) questions.

Things may be different when the person in question has been a long-time
community member, or has specific expertise, and is therefore able to
communicate meaningful advice. But for true beginners, I think it would
be much better to let them write a patch or a doc fix.

Regards

Antoine.