Re: [phpBT-dev] Comments and Questions

[Ben C. <php...@be...>]

On Fri, Mar 22, 2002 at 03:53:05PM -0600, Cameron Moore wrote:
> Hello,
> I started testing out phpbt this week with the purpose of using it to
> track bugs/tasks in the web development department where I work.  I
> tried out a couple other packages like phpbt and found them overly
> complex (in setup and use) or just generally lacking in too many areas.
> Phpbt appears to be a simple, yet powerful solution.  I tried looking
> back through some of the CVS commit messages in the list archives but
> got tired of SF's interface.  Is this list archived anywhere else?

No, the list is not archived elsewhere, but I understand your
frustration with the SF interface.  If you are looking for just an
overview of recent changes, the CHANGELOG is generally kept up-to-date
with work completed in CVS.

> 
> Anyway, I wanted to ask what plans you have for the near future.  I'm an
> unashamed Perl hacker, but I don't have any major qualls with hacking on
> PHP.  I'd like to lend a hand once I get my head our the way things are
> done inside phpbt.

Sadly, I don't have good plans for the immediate future.  Since this is
the second time someone has asked in as many weeks, I suppose I should
really get to it, shouldn't I? :)  One of the things that has been
floating around in my mind, though, is that the documentation is in need
of updating.  Of course, that usually is the last thing anybody wants to
do.  Two things I can think of, though, that need attention are
reporting and db portability in the query (e.g., case-sensitive issues).

> 
> Here's my current list of phpbt issues:
> 
> - HTML chars are not handled correctly when used in the bug summary
> - Need directory/permission checks in index.php:build_image(); took me
>   a while to figure out phpbt kept dying every time I turned on jpgraph;
>   turns out I didn't have a jpgimages/ directory.
> - Main page needs the option of showing the project next to the latest
>   items (probably in a <table/>)

Yeah, I knew I should have added this to the summary in the first place.
:)

> - Would like the ability to colorize by Priority (known issue)
> - Would like a 'show all unassigned bugs' query (known issue)
> - Would like a 'site name' option in the Configuration section and
>   replace 'phpBugTracker' with that value

That's a good one

> - Default theme is a little crude in places

Indeed -- I'm not the best designer, by any means.  Actually, I'm
surprised how long those templates I originally just threw together have
lasted.

> 
> I'm still waiting to get the go-ahead from the head web guy whether he
> likes phpbt or not, but I'm expecting him to okay it.  Once it's okayed
> (and I get authentication working correctly with the CVS version), I
> hope to help fix some of the issues listed above.

Your help is certainly welcome and appreciated.  At the least, thanks
for outlining the issues you currently have.  Feel free to let me know
how I can help you.