Is a new bug reporting system needed?

There are mixed opinions on whether or not we need to rework the bug database. Perhaps before the issue is decided we should consider the following questions. What are the benefits of changing? What are the drawbacks of changing? Could we use an existing bug tracking system? What is the best solution? ---------------------------------------------- My personal opinions are as follows: ---------------------------------------------- Q) What are the benefits of changing? A) The new system could help smooth out the debugging process. Example of how this could be accomplished follow: Screening - If the system is constructed so that the user needs to specify the details of the bug before they enter details on the bug, then there should be less duplication of bug reports. The system could be designed to help reduce multiple submits on the same bug. Confirmation - Bug reports could be assigned via an automated distribution system to active QA team members. They would then try to confirm the bug. Many spurious errors will be caught this way. Bugs that survive this testing stage will be validated and brought to the attention of the developers. Re-evaluation - Reworking the system would give us a change to re-examine bugs as they are encountered. This alone will close many bugs. Integration - Reworking the bug tracking system will allow us to easily incorporate features that will help the QA effort. Q) What are the drawbacks of changing? A) The same drawbacks that are encountered whenever a system is reworked - the need to convert old data to a new format, possiblity of errors, etc... Q) Could we use an existing bug tracking system? A) I do not know - I have not started looking yet. Q) What is the best solution? A) If I knew that, I would be sitting behind a crystal ball at the local carnival! Feedback anyone? My gut feeling is to scrap the old system and work a new one up from scratch.... Zak Greant Creative Director Nucleus Information Service Inc. "A camel is a horse designed by a committee." - Alex Issigonis (Designer of the Mini)