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How to write a good bug report? Some small "tips" when writing bug reports

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Phạm Thị Út Linh

03/22/2023

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1. What is a bug report?

- Bug report is a document that describes in detail errors, problems or problems that occur during the development or use of the software. Bug reports are often used to report to a developer or development team about bugs that need to be fixed, and are used to solve software problems.
- A typical bug report will include information such as the name of the bug, the problem description, the bug status, the person reporting the bug, the date and time the bug occurred, and the steps to reproduce the bug. Bug report is an important tool in software testing process and helps developers to solve bugs and improve product quality. 


2. Why is it important to write a good bug report?

Writing a good bug report is essential because it helps to increase the efficiency of the software development process. Here are some reasons why it is important to write a good bug report:
1. Help developers understand the problem: A good bug report provides detailed and clear information about the bug, helping the developer understand the cause and how to fix the bug quickly and effectively.
2. Saves time and effort: A well-written bug report helps the developer to quickly reproduce the issue and diagnose the problem, which saves time and effort. This, in turn, increases the chances of the issue getting fixed sooner.
3. Increases the chances of the bug getting fixed: When a developer has a good understanding of the issue, they are more likely to fix it. A clear, concise, and detailed bug report can help developers prioritize and fix issues efficiently.
4. Enhances communication between stakeholders: A good bug report helps to facilitate communication between different stakeholders, including developers, testers, and project managers. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and that the issue is being addressed appropriately.
5. Improves the quality of the product: By identifying and reporting bugs, users can help to improve the quality of the product. A good bug report helps the development team to identify and fix issues that could affect the product's usability, functionality, and overall quality.


3. What factors to evaluate a good bug report


- Self-describing: A good bug report should be able to describe the problem in detail, clearly, understandable and complete to help the developer understand the cause and how to fix the bug quickly and effectively.
- Reusability: Bug report should be written so that it can be reused in the future if there is same bug problem. This simplifies the process of checking and fixing errors later.
- Reproducibility: Bug reports should provide steps to reproduce bugs, so that developers can accurately identify and fix bugs quickly.
- Scope: The bug report should clearly define the scope of the bug's impact on the product or system. This helps the developer to assess the importance of the problem and come up with an appropriate solution.
- Support Information: Bug report should provide full support information such as operating system, software version, hardware used, information about test environment, etc. to help developers identify and fix bugs efficiently.
- Status and prioritization: Bug reports need to be assessed status and prioritized, helping developers identify issues that need to be prioritized and resolved effectively.


4. Format bug report simple and full of necessary information


- Title: Briefly describe the problem.
- Description of the problem: Include the following items:

  • Steps to reproduce the problem: Describe the steps to reproduce the problem.
  • Desired Result: Describe the desired result when performing the above step.
  • Actual results: Describe the actual results when performing the above step.
  • Detailed error description: A detailed description of the error problem, including error information such as error messages, unexpected responses, etc.


- Support information:

  • Operating system: The version of the operating system used.
  • Browser: Browser version used.
  • Software version: Current software version.
  • Test environment: Describes the test environment, including hardware and software.

- Scope: Describes the extent of the defect's impact on the product or system.
- Screenshot (if available): Attach a screenshot if possible to help developers better understand the problem.
- Status and priority:

  • Status: What state is the issue currently in (like unconfirmed, confirmed, being worked on, etc.).
  • Priority: The priority of the issue, including high, medium and low priority.


- Reporter: Name of person reporting the issue.
- Report date: The date the problem was reported.
- Module or feature name: The name of the module or feature of the product in which the problem occurs.
- Environmental health: The state of the environment when the problem occurs, including information about the operating system version, security software, etc.
- More Information: Other additional information related to the issue, including documentation, product information, etc.

5. Some tips to ensure you always have a good bug report

- Perform test steps and record all steps in bug report. This helps ensure that developers can accurately reproduce the problem and determine the cause of the error.
- Provides detailed information about the error, including information about the error, how to detect the error, error messages, error codes, etc. If possible, provide screenshots or videos to illustrate the problem.
- Give steps to reproduce the problem. Include all steps needed to reproduce the problem, including steps before and after the error occurs.
- State the extent of the issue's impact, including which features or functions are affected, how the issue affects users, and more.
- Use problem management software to manage bug reports. This helps you keep track of issues and deal with them in the correct order of priority.
- Provide detailed information about the test environment, including software version, operating system version, other related software, etc.
- Pay attention to your language and writing style. Use clear language and avoid confusing technical terms.
- Pay attention to your language and writing style. Use clear language and avoid confusing technical terms.
- Pay attention to the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed solutions. If you come up with solutions, make sure they are viable and effective.
- Update information on bug report fully and accurately. This makes it possible for developers to track and resolve issues quickly and efficiently.

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