======================================

Reporting bugs and requesting features

======================================

.. Important::

    Please report security issues **only** to

    [email protected].  This is a private list only open to

    long-time, highly trusted Django developers, and its archives are

    not public. For further details, please see :doc:`our security

    policies </internals/security>`.

Otherwise, before reporting a bug or requesting a new feature on the

`ticket tracker <https://code.djangoproject.com/>`_, consider these points:

* Check that someone hasn't already filed the bug or feature request by

  `searching`_ or running `custom queries`_ in the ticket tracker.

* Don't use the ticket system to ask support questions. Use the

  |django-users| list or the `#django`_ IRC channel for that.

* Don't reopen issues that have been marked "wontfix" without finding consensus

  to do so on |django-developers|.

* Don't use the ticket tracker for lengthy discussions, because they're

  likely to get lost. If a particular ticket is controversial, please move the

  discussion to |django-developers|.

.. _reporting-bugs:

Reporting bugs

==============

Well-written bug reports are *incredibly* helpful. However, there's a certain

amount of overhead involved in working with any bug tracking system so your

help in keeping our ticket tracker as useful as possible is appreciated. In

particular:

* **Do** read the :doc:`FAQ </faq/index>` to see if your issue might

  be a well-known question.

* **Do** ask on |django-users| or `#django`_ *first* if you're not sure if

  what you're seeing is a bug.

* **Do** write complete, reproducible, specific bug reports. You must

  include a clear, concise description of the problem, and a set of

  instructions for replicating it. Add as much debug information as you can:

  code snippets, test cases, exception backtraces, screenshots, etc. A nice

  small test case is the best way to report a bug, as it gives us a

  helpful way to confirm the bug quickly.

* **Don't** post to |django-developers| only to announce that you have filed a

  bug report. All the tickets are mailed to another list, |django-updates|,

  which is tracked by developers and interested community members; we see them

  as they are filed.

To understand the lifecycle of your ticket once you have created it, refer to

:doc:`triaging-tickets`.

Reporting user interface bugs and features

==========================================

If your bug or feature request touches on anything visual in nature, there

are a few additional guidelines to follow:

* Include screenshots in your ticket which are the visual equivalent of a

  minimal test case. Show off the issue, not the crazy customizations

  you've made to your browser.

* If the issue is difficult to show off using a still image, consider

  capturing a *brief* screencast. If your software permits it, capture only

  the relevant area of the screen.

* If you're offering a patch that changes the look or behavior of Django's

  UI, you **must** attach before *and* after screenshots/screencasts.

  Tickets lacking these are difficult for triagers to assess quickly.

* Screenshots don't absolve you of other good reporting practices. Make sure

  to include URLs, code snippets, and step-by-step instructions on how to

  reproduce the behavior visible in the screenshots.

* Make sure to set the UI/UX flag on the ticket so interested parties can

  find your ticket.

Requesting features

===================

We're always trying to make Django better, and your feature requests are a key

part of that. Here are some tips on how to make a request most effectively:

* Make sure the feature actually requires changes in Django's core. If your

  idea can be developed as an independent application or module — for

  instance, you want to support another database engine — we'll probably

  suggest that you develop it independently. Then, if your project gathers

  sufficient community support, we may consider it for inclusion in Django.

* First request the feature on the |django-developers| list, not in the

  ticket tracker. It'll get read more closely if it's on the mailing list.

  This is even more important for large-scale feature requests. We like to

  discuss any big changes to Django's core on the mailing list before

  actually working on them.

* Describe clearly and concisely what the missing feature is and how you'd

  like to see it implemented. Include example code (non-functional is OK)

  if possible.

* Explain *why* you'd like the feature. Explaining a minimal use case will help

  others understand where it fits in, and if there are already other ways of

  achieving the same thing.

If there's a consensus agreement on the feature, then it's appropriate to

create a ticket. Include a link to the discussion on |django-developers| in the

ticket description.

As with most open-source projects, code talks. If you are willing to write the

code for the feature yourself or, even better, if you've already written it,

it's much more likely to be accepted. Fork Django on GitHub, create a feature

branch, and show us your work!

See also: :ref:`documenting-new-features`.

.. _how-we-make-decisions:

How we make decisions

=====================

Whenever possible, we strive for a rough consensus. To that end, we'll often

have informal votes on |django-developers| or the Django Forum about a feature.

In these votes we follow the voting style invented by Apache and used on Python

itself, where votes are given as +1, +0, -0, or -1.

Roughly translated, these votes mean:

* +1: "I love the idea and I'm strongly committed to it."

* +0: "Sounds OK to me."

* -0: "I'm not thrilled, but I won't stand in the way."

* -1: "I strongly disagree and would be very unhappy to see the idea turn

  into reality."

Although these votes are informal, they'll be taken very seriously. After a

suitable voting period, if an obvious consensus arises we'll follow the votes.

However, consensus is not always possible. If consensus cannot be reached, or

if the discussion toward a consensus fizzles out without a concrete decision,

the decision may be deferred to the :ref:`steering council <steering-council>`.

Internally, the steering council will use the same voting mechanism. A

proposition will be considered carried if:

* There are at least three "+1" votes from members of the steering council.

* There is no "-1" vote from any member of the steering council.

Votes should be submitted within a week.

Since this process allows any steering council member to veto a proposal, a

"-1" vote should be accompanied by an explanation of what it would take to

convert that "-1" into at least a "+0".

Votes on technical matters should be announced and held in public on the

|django-developers| mailing list or on the Django Forum.

.. _searching: https://code.djangoproject.com/search

.. _custom queries: https://code.djangoproject.com/query

.. _#django: https://web.libera.chat/#django