What is this website about?
bugs.software is a website dedicated to software bugs, with the goal of being as practical and useful as possible. It is structured as an online community where users can discuss the software issues they encounter and share solutions.
For example, if you are currently encountering an issue that could be caused by a software bug, you can write a post about it, or use the Search function to check if other members reported a similar one. You can also comment and propose solutions to already reported issues. A solution can be anything that helps avoid or mitigate the problem, such as a workaround or an update (please explain how to apply it if it isn’t obvious).
What is the difference between an issue and a bug?
On bugs.software, while the aim is to identify bugs, we start by discussing issues. An issue is anything that causes annoyance, such as a usability problem, a missing feature, something not working, etc. However, not every issue is caused by a software bug, so we first need to determine what is actually going on.
For this, we rely on voting. It is possible to vote both for posts about issues and for their solutions. If for a given issue, there are sufficient votes and evidences that it is caused by a bug, it will be tagged with “confirmed bug” by a moderator.
What software are we talking about?
On bugs.software, we focus on products that run or consist of software. It is not limited to software in the traditional sense, such as desktop applications. So, any software running on your PC, smartphone, car, fridge, website, etc. can be of interest.
Additionally, if you are having issues with bugs.software itself, use the « this site » tag.
Who is the audience for this website?
The audience is really anyone who uses software, is looking for solutions, or can provide solutions. People of all skill levels, from beginners to experts, are welcome to contribute. The focus, however, is on using software rather than on how it is created. For issues related to software engineering and coding, there are many other websites that are better suited.
Can I report any issue?
In general, yes, but be careful when reporting about security vulnerabilities and do not confuse bugs.software with a bug bounty platform. Security bugs are subject to confidentiality requirements defined by law. If in doubt, always get permission from the software vendor or use a dedicated reporting website.
How to use tags?
On bugs.software, tags are used to identify products and topics. This helps to organize content and make searching easier. Tags also have a "Follow" function. If you are interested in a certain topic, follow the corresponding tag to get updates about it.
What does reputation represent?
Your reputation points show how much the community values your knowledge. You earn points when someone finds your the issue you reported or solutions you proposed helpful. You also get points when the person who had an issue accepts your solution.