Maintainer Responsibilities

[Ralf Corsepius]

Steven M. Parrish wrote:

> Many people have mentioned that it is not right to ask the users to file their 
> bug reports upstream.  I ask why not? 

Let me summarize what I already wrote elsewhere in this thread:
* Users aren't necessarily developers.
* Users aren't necessarily interested in getting involved upstream.
* Users are reporting bugs against your product (your package in 
Fedora), not against upstream's work (somebody else's product).


Let me try an analogy: How do you handle defects/malfunctions with your 
car?

You'll visit your car dealer/a garage and report the issue to them. 
You'll expect them to identify the problem and to take appropriate steps 
to solve your issue. You don't expect them to direct you to the car's 
manufacturer or a component manufacturer and to discuss technical 
details you have no knowledge about with them ("Is the stuttering engine 
cause by triac 7 in a component A you haven't heard about before" or by 
the hall sensor in component B you also haven't heard about before).

> Obviously by reporting the issue to us 
> they feel it is important and needs to be addressed.  The took the time to 
> open a RH bugzilla account to file the report, so I don't see why they can't 
> take 60 seconds and open an upstream account as well.
Here, my answer is: They are using Fedora/participating in Fedora and 
therefore have RH bugzilla account. They are not participating in these 
upstream projects.

Ralf