launchpad helpBugs are problems that occur in software. If you come across a bug, you can help to fix it by reporting it to the people that produce the software.
You can use Launchpad to report a bug if:
- you found it whilst using a Linux distribution that manages bugs in Launchpad, such as one of the Ubuntu family
- or the software's website tells you that it uses Launchpad to manage bug reports.
Confirming the bug exists
Before you report a bug, it's important to confirm that it wasn't a one-off.
Think about what you were doing before the bug happened, then repeat the same steps. If the problem happens again, you should report the bug.
Bugs in the Ubuntu family
Note: To report a bug directly with the project that creates the software, skip to the section Bugs in other software.
Step 1: Visit https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+filebug
Step 2: Enter a brief summary of the bug you've found. Example: Program X crashes when editing multiple documents.
Step 3: Launchpad will search existing bugs and show you a list of bugs that appear similar to the one you've reported. You'll also see a list of the bugs that people report most often.
Check the bugs that Launchpad lists. If one appears to be the same as the problem you encountered, click it, then skip to the section titled Adding comments to an existing bug.
Step 4: If you don't see a similar bug in the list that Launchpad shows you, scroll down to the section headed In which package did you find this bug?
The software in your Linux distribution is held in packages. To identify where you found the bug, you need to specify the appropriate package. Click Choose.
attachment:choose-package.png
Step 5: A pop-up window will open. Use the text-box to enter the name of the software you were using, then click Search. If you see a package name similar to the name of the software you were using, click it. Otherwise, close the pop-up window without entering a package name.
Step 6: In the large text-box, beneath your one-line summary, give as much information as you can about the bug. Useful information includes:
- What the software did to make you think a bug had occurred.
- Exactly what you were doing when the bug happened - describe what someone else would have to do to see the bug.
- Any error messages or anything else that you saw.
Quick-tip: You can learn what information is most useful in the article [http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html How to report bugs effectively].
Step 7: When you've given as much relevant information as possible, click the Submit Bug Report button.
Launchpad will now email the Linux distribution's bug team, to let them know that you've created a bug.
