When will all the reported bug fixes and feature requests be implemented?

dennismullen · September 16, 2013

It feels like we are being Beta testers.
That's bad enough but the problems we point out haven't been dealt with.

So will it be one week, one month, one year, or never?
I'd like to know if things aren't going to improve.

Cheers,

pilotdave · September 16, 2013

dennismullen wrote: »

It feels like we are being Beta testers.
That's bad enough but the problems we point out haven't been dealt with.

So will it be one week, one month, one year, or never?
I'd like to know if things aren't going to improve.

Cheers,

I can't speak for smugmug but based on their history I think it's safe to say the answer is all of the above.

As Andy would have said, stay tuned. That is another way of saying yes, we might do what you want someday, or not.

Dave

bobbyhero · September 16, 2013

We take every bug report seriously, and they are logged into our tracking system. We then tackle each one. If you want an update on a specific bug, just email the Heroes, and we can let you know where it stands:
http://help.smugmug.com

LPC · September 16, 2013

It's such a silly pointless question

beardedgit · September 16, 2013

LPC wrote: »

It's such a silly pointless question

Moreover, it's such a silly unhelpful response, at the same low level on the Dumbing-Down Scale as

"Can you try updating Java and Flash then try again? Are you running an updated version of Firefox? Do you have a firewall that might be blocking SmugMug?"

and

"I know this is not the answer you are looking for, but it is the only answer we have for you at the moment."

zacHer0 · September 16, 2013

beardedgit wrote: »

Moreover, it's such a silly unhelpful response, at the same low level on the Dumbing-Down Scale as and

You are quoting something that I said and taking it out of context. When someone has a problem with uploading we have to make sure that we cover the basics. We can't assume that someone knows or has checked the basic things when there are uploading problems.

beardedgit · September 16, 2013

zacHer0 wrote: »

You are quoting something that I said and taking it out of context.

IMO it's no more out of context than telling folk that progress-updates for bug-fixes that were asked for publicly on DGrin should be requested via the privacy of email.

WinsomeWorks · September 16, 2013

zacHer0 wrote: »

You are quoting something that I said and taking it out of context. When someone has a problem with uploading we have to make sure that we cover the basics. We can't assume that someone knows or has checked the basic things when there are uploading problems.

He was probably a little shocked to see that answer to that specific person, as I was too. That OP (Ron) with that problem is a professional with frequent posts & frequent uploading, and had already posted several times about other uploading problems. He also helps a lot of people out around here with how to do stuff, & it's known to almost anyone who's paying attention to these threads that he certainly wouldn't have firewalls or any of those other issues (Java, Flash) since he's constantly doing/selling/uploading professional work here & has been for a long time. Even a look at his siggy etc. should've been a tip-off. I almost said something too when I saw that kind of response to him, but didn't as I remembered you're newer around here than some of us old geezers. But anyway, I'm guessing that's what BeardedGit was reacting to. I think what frustrates people when they see a response that doesn't seem to take into account someone's known stature of "presence" around here (or whatever you wanna call it) is that it ends up costing the OP a lot of time in getting a real answer... causes unnecessary back-&-forth. In other words, there are some people who you can assume know the basics!

zacHer0 · September 16, 2013

WinsomeWorks wrote: »

He was probably a little shocked to see that answer to that specific person, as I was too. That OP (Ron) with that problem is a professional with frequent posts & frequent uploading, and had already posted several times about other uploading problems. He also helps a lot of people out around here with how to do stuff, & it's known to almost anyone who's paying attention to these threads that he certainly wouldn't have firewalls or any of the other things if he's constantly doing/selling/uploading professional work here & has been for a long time. Even a look at his siggy etc. should've been a tip-off. I almost said something too when I saw that kind of response to him, but didn't as I remembered you're newer around here than some of us old geezers. But anyway, I'm guessing that's what BeardedGit was reacting to.

Been a member of Dgrin 3 months shy of you :ivar

It's all good, I was just trying to help. I come into threads where people have questions, and no offense meant but I can't keep up with who specific people are and their post history. For the most part I do not assume that anyone has specific knowledge unless I know for sure.

beardedgit · September 16, 2013

zacHer0 wrote: »

Been a member of Dgrin 3 months shy of you :ivar

It's not the size that matters, it's what you do with it

WinsomeWorks · September 16, 2013

zacHer0 wrote: »

Been a member of Dgrin 3 months shy of you :ivar

It's all good, I was just trying to help. I come into threads where people have questions, and no offense meant but I can't keep up with who specific people are and their post history. For the most part I do not assume that anyone has specific knowledge unless I know for sure.

Didn't mean "around" as a member... meant "around" as a Hero! (plenty of members don't pay attention to the forums, but we have a different expectation of Heroes....however, they should get cut a little more slack if they're "newer" I guess)

It's just... Ron's been kinda here there & everywhere on the forums so... yeah.

beardedgit · September 16, 2013

Anyway, back on topic...

I think that we (including the OP?) know why we aren't being kept up-to-date with the status of bug-fixes. It's the "elephant in the room" thing.

So I'll state the case and let somebody else prove me wrong: SM dare not publicly acknowledge the sheer scale and volume of the remedial work required to put right the things that have been found to be broken/missing/incomplete at launch.

It's all a bit "Apollo 13"...

Gene Kranz: Let's look at this thing from a... um, from a standpoint of status. What do we got on the spacecraft that's good?
Sy Liebergot: I'll get back to you, Gene.

Gene Kranz: Come on, I want whatever you guys got on the power-up procedures. We've got to get something up to these guys.
Deke Slayton: Gene, they're working on it.
Gene Kranz: I don't want the want the whole damn bible, just give me a couple of chapters. We've got to give these guys something.
Deke Slayton: They're working on it now.
NASA engineer: I'll get over there and get an estimate.
Gene Kranz: Goddamnit! I don't want another estimate! I want the procedure! NOW!

Andy · September 16, 2013

WinsomeWorks wrote: »

In other words, there are some people who you can assume know the basics!

60,000 + posts later, and probably 100,000 emails with SmugMug Customers, I can say that this is absolutely a recipe for disaster.

Zac did the right thing

(of course, I'm biased!)

WinsomeWorks · September 17, 2013

Andy wrote: »

60,000 + posts later, and probably 100,000 emails with SmugMug Customers, I can say that this is absolutely a recipe for disaster.

Zac did the right thing (of course, I'm biased!)

Yeah, I can get that. I mean, the Java & Flash reminders-- I guess we can all use them from time to time. It was more the firewall thing that gave me a bit of a chuckle, knowing even a tiny little history of Ron's involvement here. Fortunately he doesn't seem to take offense easily, so some others did the chuckling for him. But I agree, Zac seems to be a great guy & is always very impressively level-headed & even-handed. He musta gotten it from SOMEwhere!!

Maybe just if it's a long-time Pro here reporting a problem, it's good to include a few other bits of advice along with the Java / Flash reminders or whatever, just to cut to the chase a little faster in case they already know to check the basics! I understand that these uploading issues can be a real PITA to nail down, though. So many factors....

dereksurfs · September 17, 2013

The problem is there can never be an answer to the type of question originally asked. When will *All* the reported bugs and features be implemented? In software that *never* happens as its a constantly moving target vs. something like a car, tv, etc...

Let's start with software bugs. Reports of bugs are a continuous thing. Known bugs are recorded, prioritized based on severity, assigned to a developer and specific build, fixed, tested, then deployed. There is no end unless a program stops changing unlike other consumer products.

For features similarly the list is never finite. So when will *it* be done doesn't apply. That is why there are feature requests, voting, internal discussions as well discussions on the boards such as this. Based on these factors and many more (e.g. time, resources, security, architecture implications, goals, long term objectives, etc...) they are designed, assigned, developed, tested then deployed.

If instead someone really wants to know when will my JS XYZ feature get implemented that can be discussed. Anything more is simply throwing a blanket statement out there. Many bugs have already been fixed and features added. More features will continue to be added, while some will have to wait and honestly some will not get added. Before you cry Foul I'll tell you that this applies to virtually *all* software projects. It's just the nature of the business.

And BTW, Dennis and I are waiting on some of the sames things such as this: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=238001

AperturePlus · September 17, 2013

dennismullen wrote: »

It feels like we are being Beta testers.

+1 to that. It frustrates me beyond measure to think that this is the case.

We were told that the changes were coming for at least a year before they were unveiled and when they were, the list of issues was/is unprecedented. I personally feel that whoever wrote the new code, did so in a rush and certainly not over a year period. The Beta testing that was done before the unveil, was shoddy at best.

WinsomeWorks · September 17, 2013

AperturePlus wrote: »

+1 to that. It frustrates me beyond measure to think that this is the case.

We were told that the changes were coming for at least a year before they were unveiled and when they were, the list of issues was/is unprecedented. I personally feel that whoever wrote the new code, did so in a rush and certainly not over a year period. The Beta testing that was done before the unveil, was shoddy at best.

It was actually over 2 years, as you can see from this June 2011 Thread: http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=198816&page=118 Not that I'm disagreeing with your main point; just clarifying.

When will all the reported bug fixes and feature requests be implemented?

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