Reporting Bugs: The HOW TO

(copied from the form post by Zacam modified from the original post created by Inquisitor)

We use a bug-tracking system called Mantis, and it is located here. This is used to track bug reports only. It's highly recommended that you give a read to Karajormas wonderful article: "How to report bugs - A Coder's Perspective" before starting. Additionally, give a read to this article on how to submit bugs. It will save both you and us a substantial amount of grief.

Here are the Guidelines to adhere to when using Mantis:

• Look before you leap - make sure there isn't a similar bug before you post a new one. If there is a similar bug, post info on your particular circumstance.
• Give the bug an intelligible title. Nothing is worse than "it's broke" or "weird problem". Help us make sense of it.
• Provide as much information as you can. What you think is unimportant could actually be very important in finding out what's causing the bug. It's better to have too much than too little.
• ALWAYS post what build you're using. Usually it will have the date in the file name. If it's just named something like "fs2_open_r", post where you got it from and what date it was posted.
• ALWAYS post what command lines you're using, and whether removing them makes the problem go away.
• ALWAYS post whether you're using any of the mediaVPs, and whether removing them makes the problem go away.
• ALWAYS run a debug build and post any errors you get with it (Not all builds have a debug build with them though)
• ALWAYS keep track of any bugs you report. Check them regularly, provide reminders to the coders if necessary, and make sure your Mantis emails aren't getting eaten by the spam filter. If we can't reproduce your bug, and we can't get in touch with you, we WILL remove your bug report.
• If you haven't done so already, READ THIS ARTICLE. Seriously.

If you must browse without registering, please use these credentials:

Username: SCPGuest
Password: password

However, note that you will not be able to report bugs as a guest. To be fully involved, please take the time to register. We do not allow anonymous bug reporting: the reason we require registration is so that we can keep in touch with our bug reporters. Again, bug reporting is not fire-and-forget. We will usually need to ask you to do something to help us fix the bug.

Help us help FreeSpace. You guys are as important to this process as any of the developers.