svn commit: r45003 - head/en_US.ISO8859-1/articles/problem-reports

[Warren Block]

Author: wblock
Date: Tue Jun  3 23:21:48 2014
New Revision: 45003
URL: http://svnweb.freebsd.org/changeset/doc/45003

Log:
  Update the Problem Reports article, adding techniques for followup when
  a PR has been untouched for a while.  Modified version of patch included
  with PR.
  
  PR:		docs/190593
  Submitted by:	ports at robakdesign.com

Modified:
  head/en_US.ISO8859-1/articles/problem-reports/article.xml

Modified: head/en_US.ISO8859-1/articles/problem-reports/article.xml
==============================================================================
--- head/en_US.ISO8859-1/articles/problem-reports/article.xml	Tue Jun  3 22:29:10 2014	(r45002)
+++ head/en_US.ISO8859-1/articles/problem-reports/article.xml	Tue Jun  3 23:21:48 2014	(r45003)
@@ -1242,6 +1242,60 @@
       gone away, just send a follow-up (in the manner prescribed
       above) saying that the problem report can be closed, and, if
       possible, explaining how or when the problem was fixed.</para>
+
+    <para>Sometimes there is a delay of a week or two where the
+      problem report remains untouched, not assigned or commented on
+      by anyone.  This can happen when there is an increased problem
+      report backlog or during a holiday season.  When a problem
+      report has not received attention after several weeks, it is
+      worth finding a committer particularly interested in working on
+      it.</para>
+
+    <para>There are a few ways to do so, ideally in the following
+      order, with a few days between attempting each communication
+      channel:</para>
+
+    <itemizedlist>
+      <listitem>
+	<para>Find the relevant &os; mailing list for the problem
+	  report from the <link
+	    xlink:href="&url.books.handbook;/eresources.html#ERESOURCES-MAIL">list
+	    in the Handbook</link> and send a message to that list
+	  asking about assistance or comments on the problem
+	  report.</para>
+      </listitem>
+
+      <listitem>
+	<para>Join the relevant <acronym>IRC</acronym> channels.
+	  A partial listing is here: <link
+	    xlink:href="https://wiki.freebsd.org/IrcChannels"></link>.
+	  Inform the people in that channel about the problem report
+	  and ask for assistance.  Be patient and stay in the channel
+	  after posting, so that the people from different time zones
+	  around the world have a chance to catch up.</para>
+      </listitem>
+
+      <listitem>
+	<para>Find committers interested in the problem that was
+	  reported.  If the problem was in a particular tool, binary,
+	  port, document, or source file, check the <link
+	    xlink:href="http://svnweb.FreeBSD.org">SVN
+	    Repository</link>.  Locate the last few committers who
+	  made substantive changes to the file, and try to reach them
+	  via <acronym>IRC</acronym> or email.  A list of committers
+	  and their emails can be found in the <link
+	    xlink:href="&url.articles.contributors.en;">Contributors
+	    to &os;</link> article.</para>
+      </listitem>
+    </itemizedlist>
+
+    <para>Remember that these people are volunteers, just like
+      maintainers and users, so they might not be immediately
+      available to assist with the problem report.  Patience and
+      consistency in the follow-ups is highly advised and appreciated.
+      With enough care and effort dedicated to that follow-up process,
+      finding a committer to take care of the problem report is just a
+      matter of time.</para>
   </section>
 
   <section xml:id="pr-problems">