1.. _reporting-bugs: 2 3************** 4Reporting Bugs 5************** 6 7Python is a mature programming language which has established a reputation for 8stability. In order to maintain this reputation, the developers would like to 9know of any deficiencies you find in Python. 10 11 12Documentation bugs 13================== 14 15If you find a bug in this documentation or would like to propose an improvement, 16please submit a bug report on the :ref:`tracker <using-the-tracker>`. If you 17have a suggestion how to fix it, include that as well. 18 19If you're short on time, you can also email documentation bug reports to 20docs@python.org (behavioral bugs can be sent to python-list@python.org). 21'docs@' is a mailing list run by volunteers; your request will be noticed, 22though it may take a while to be processed. 23 24.. seealso:: 25 `Documentation bugs`_ on the Python issue tracker 26 27.. _using-the-tracker: 28 29Using the Python issue tracker 30============================== 31 32Bug reports for Python itself should be submitted via the Python Bug Tracker 33(https://bugs.python.org/). The bug tracker offers a Web form which allows 34pertinent information to be entered and submitted to the developers. 35 36The first step in filing a report is to determine whether the problem has 37already been reported. The advantage in doing so, aside from saving the 38developers time, is that you learn what has been done to fix it; it may be that 39the problem has already been fixed for the next release, or additional 40information is needed (in which case you are welcome to provide it if you can!). 41To do this, search the bug database using the search box on the top of the page. 42 43If the problem you're reporting is not already in the bug tracker, go back to 44the Python Bug Tracker and log in. If you don't already have a tracker account, 45select the "Register" link or, if you use OpenID, one of the OpenID provider 46logos in the sidebar. It is not possible to submit a bug report anonymously. 47 48Being now logged in, you can submit a bug. Select the "Create New" link in the 49sidebar to open the bug reporting form. 50 51The submission form has a number of fields. For the "Title" field, enter a 52*very* short description of the problem; less than ten words is good. In the 53"Type" field, select the type of your problem; also select the "Component" and 54"Versions" to which the bug relates. 55 56In the "Comment" field, describe the problem in detail, including what you 57expected to happen and what did happen. Be sure to include whether any 58extension modules were involved, and what hardware and software platform you 59were using (including version information as appropriate). 60 61Each bug report will be assigned to a developer who will determine what needs to 62be done to correct the problem. You will receive an update each time action is 63taken on the bug. 64 65 66.. seealso:: 67 68 `How to Report Bugs Effectively <http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html>`_ 69 Article which goes into some detail about how to create a useful bug report. 70 This describes what kind of information is useful and why it is useful. 71 72 `Bug Writing Guidelines <https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/QA/Bug_writing_guidelines>`_ 73 Information about writing a good bug report. Some of this is specific to the 74 Mozilla project, but describes general good practices. 75 76 77Getting started contributing to Python yourself 78=============================================== 79 80Beyond just reporting bugs that you find, you are also welcome to submit 81patches to fix them. You can find more information on how to get started 82patching Python in the `Python Developer's Guide`_. If you have questions, 83the `core-mentorship mailing list`_ is a friendly place to get answers to 84any and all questions pertaining to the process of fixing issues in Python. 85 86.. _Documentation bugs: https://bugs.python.org/issue?@filter=status&@filter=components&components=4&status=1&@columns=id,activity,title,status&@sort=-activity 87.. _Python Developer's Guide: https://docs.python.org/devguide/ 88.. _core-mentorship mailing list: https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/core-mentorship/ 89