Should enhancement requests be allowed in bugzilla?

[Derek Parnell]

Yes.

(1) Its the best issue tracking system we have got working for us. It is a  
stable product. It can cope with the sort of functionality needed by  
Walter to manage issues.
(2) There are a number of things that need to be managed when developing a  
software product. And as it happens, the type of data and management  
processes are nearly identical for errors (a.k.a. bugs), enhancements, and  
requests for information, so a single tool that handles all these is more  
efficient. It takes lees time and energy to manage a single tool than  
multiple tools.

One can't prevent stupidity but one can demonstrate honesty. So if people  
use the data in an issue tracking system to make stupid conclusions there  
is nothing you can really do to prevent that. At best you can moderate the  
damage by highlighing your integrity by admitting the existance of  
problems and demonstating attention to them, and also showing direction  
with respect to requests from your clientele.

Walter, like all developers, needs tools to manage large number of issues  
with their products. We can see the obvious need when it comes to reported  
errors, but the need with requests is just as great. It is too easy to  
misplace adhoc requests and too easy to forget to provide feedback. A  
tracking system, like bugzilla, can be a useful two-way communication  
tool, even though it is not the one to use for discussions. We have other  
tools for that function - wikis and forums, for example.

-- 
Derek Parnell
Melbourne, Australia