[arch-general] [arch-dev-public] Allow comments on closed bugs?

[Linas]

Xavier Chantry wrote:
> The tiny size of the reopen textbox does not give a lot of freedom for
> justifications either.
> I think this is completely missing the point though. I don't
> understand why Dan is the only developer who sees that it sometimes
> makes sense to provide additional information on closed bug reports.
> (update : just saw there is also Pierre)
>
> If a bug becomes completely useless and irrelevant when it is closed,
> why keep it at all ? flyspray could just delete it.
> The moment a bug is closed is not the moment it becomes history, I can
> see plenty of cases where one might want to look back at a closed bug
> (and possibly complete or correct its contents).
>
> Now if you (and other dev) tells me that you do see that value, but
> there are more drawbacks caused by the big number of stupid arch
> users, then ok... the situation is just sad.
>
> But even then, if we consider these situations :
> 1) Stupid user
> Either keep posting stupid comments or requesting re-open. The
> developer just ignores it either way. Is there really a big difference
> between the two ? We not only assume users are stupid and will flame,
> but also that they will keep doing that eternally even if no one
> answers ?
> 2) Good user
> Won't post good additional informations because it's not possible. The
> reopen request just does not cut it.
>
> Anyway this is too much arguing for a relatively minor issue. Comments
> on closed bugs have the potential to be useful occasionally, that's
> all there is to it.
> And we are just talking about a flyspray option which can be turned
> on/off anytime without drawback ? It's not like it's a decision that
> can cause eternal pain. When it does reach the point where a developer
> is pissed off, you have your proof that comments on closed bugs is a
> bad thing, and you can justify disabling this feature.
>
> Thanks for accepting my reopening request, you can close the bug now
> :) Oops, cannot be done on the ML.
>    

I find that bugs should be commentable (and even reopenable!) after it was
marked as 'fixed'. That's also how other trackers work.
As some developers seems scared of what could happen, then there may be
an additional locked flag, to "close harder".
Rationale for not allowing comments is "I would need to stop tracking it" to
not have stupid reopen requests. But if it's closed and people can't post
comments, you still get mails asking for a reopen.
IMHO useful comments are the ones which are lost the most, since smart
guys are the ones that will shut up if the bug is closed -some dumb requests
are also lost but other create reopen requests.

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