Proven tester

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Proven testers on hiatus
As of 2012-02-13, the proven testers system is currently 'on hiatus'. Contrary to what's written below, proven tester feedback is at present treated no differently from any other feedback for the purposes of approving Fedora updates. This means that, at present, proven tester status has no consequence. The proven tester group continues to exist and proven tester feedback will still have (proventester) when listed in Bodhi, and we will continue to honor requests to join the group, but please be aware there is no actual reason to do so under the current updates policy. We are keeping the group and documentation alive in the expectation that future improvements to Bodhi will allow us to make the group 'active' once more.

A proven tester, also known as a critical path wrangler, verifies and reports on the stability of test updates to critical path packages. They retrieve their updates from the updates-testing repository and report their findings as karma using Bodhi. Positive karma from a proven tester is required for each critical path update before it can be pushed to the stable repository.

A proven tester is a member of the proventesters group. Individuals who wish to join this group must first be mentored and approved.

Joining the proven testers

1. Sign up for the Fedora Account System (if you haven't already) and apply to join the proventesters group
2. File a ticket in Fedora QA Trac, with type proventester request and component Proventester Mentor Request, asking to join the proven testers and requesting a mentor
3. Wait for a mentor to accept your request, and follow the instructions they provide

To speed up the process, you can get ahead with learning to be a proven tester by following the instructions further down this page, and filing some feedback while you wait for the mentoring process. Post in your mentor request to state that you have read the instructions on this page, and that you understand how to install test updates, test them, and post feedback. You can also link to some of the feedback you post, so your mentor can check to make sure you've got it right!

Testing process

Proven testers verify a basic level of stability before releasing an update to the public. They do not need to test for total correctness or ensure complete test coverage. Some tests will vary depending on the type of the package, while others must pass for all updates. Generally speaking, an update should successfully execute all applicable critical path actions. The Fedora release criteria is another useful guide for minimum testing criteria.

Proven testers verify updates by installing them from the updates-testing repository. For instructions on using this repository, see this page. To ensure rapid detection of regressions, you should perform a full system update from this repository at least once a day. You can update individual packages more quickly if the need for verification is urgent. We recommend that you have SELinux enabled and set to Enforcing mode (this is the default configuration, but many people disable SELinux after installing Fedora) for the purpose of testing.

General tests

1. The system must be able to shut down and reboot.
2. The user must be able to log in to the desktop.
3. The user must be able to access the network.

Testing applications

If the package is an application, run the application and check that basic operations work.

Testing libraries and shared components

If it is a library or other shared component, run an application which uses the component and ensure that it works.

Feedback procedures

Since a proven tester's karma determines whether an update is allowed to be promoted, they follow special procedures based on the severity of regressions they encounter. Use Fedora Easy Karma - see the page for instructions on installing and using this tool - to list all installed packages from the updates-testing repository and allow to file feedback on each one at a time. Note that you can use the parameter --critpath-only, which will cause f-e-k to list only unapproved critical path updates, if you are short on time for testing. If you do not use this parameter, pay particular attention to updates whose description notes that they are critical path updates.

Positive feedback

Usually, you will be able to post positive feedback on an update. If you do not encounter any of the situations below, and find that the update passes the tests mentioned above and does not cause you any other problems, you should leave positive feedback and note that you were able to use the package successfully and did not notice any significant problems.

Major bugs

If you identified any serious problems in your testing and were able to identify the update responsible, post negative feedback for that update. If possible, please file a bug report on the problem and link to the bug report in your feedback message. A good feedback message quickly and clearly identifies the behavior change and the cause, if you were able to determine it.

Minor bugs

If you identify a problem which is minor in nature and does not impede the actual critical path functionality, please do not post negative feedback. Post neutral or positive feedback with a note of the issue encountered (and a link to a bug report if appropriate).

Previously reported bugs

If your testing uncovers no problems but you see that another tester has identified a serious problem with the package, please try to replicate their problem, and post negative feedback if you are now able to confirm it. If you are not able to confirm the problem but you suspect this may be because you cannot recreate the necessary conditions, please post neutral feedback noting that you were unable to duplicate the problem. Only post positive feedback if you are sure your testing indicates the other reporter's negative feedback is a mistake.

Update does not fix a bug it claims to

If you find an update does not fix a bug it claims to fix, this is not usually a case where you should file negative karma. Only file negative karma if that is the only change in the update. If an update claims to fix five bugs, but only fixes four of them, it is not helpful to post negative karma as this may result in the update being rejected, which does not help those suffering from the bug that wasn't fixed, and hurts those suffering from the bugs that are fixed. When you test an update that claims to fix a particular bug and doesn't, but does not have any of the issues listed as meriting negative or neutral feedback above, please leave positive feedback with a note that the bug in question is not fixed, or neutral feedback with such a note if the issue prevents you from otherwise properly testing the update.

Update does not fix a bug it does not claim to

Please do not leave negative feedback on an update simply because it does not fix a bug that also existed prior to the update, and which the update does not claim to fix. Doing so serves no purpose: preventing the update from being released doesn't help you when the already-released version of the package also has the bug. In this case, making it harder for the update to be approved only serves to prevent other users from getting the fixes for their bugs.

Unfamiliar packages

If you are not sure what the component does or how to test it, do not post positive or negative feedback. For critical path updates, if the above general tests of booting, network functionality and update functionality identified no problems, it is fine to leave a neutral feedback message noting that you were able to boot the system and perform critical path tasks with the update installed. This is generally not useful for non-critical path updates, however: please only comment on them if you are familiar with the package and able to test it directly.

Proven tester mentoring

Proven tester mentors accept requests from prospective proven tester members, and check that the applicants have read and understood the proven tester instructions before approving their membership. This process is not intended to be onerous, and we should expect to accept all applications unless they have obviously been made in error, seem malicious in intent or the applicant fails to affirm that they have read the instructions for the process.

Becoming a mentor

Any proven tester can become a mentor. Simply let any existing mentor or group administrator - those listed as administrator or sponsor in the group member list - know you would like to become a mentor, and they will upgrade you to sponsor level, which will allow you to accept applications to the group.

Mentoring process

You can find membership applications in Trac. You can also subscribe to an RSS feed of membership applications. To accept an application, assign it to yourself. Now ensure that the applicant has ...

1. applied to the FAS group
2. read the instructions at Proven_tester
3. knows how to use the updates-testing repository and fedora-easy-karma.

If the applicant provides links to some feedback they have already posted, read these to check that they are in line with the process. If all of this is in order, sponsor the applicant into the proventesters FAS group, and close the application ticket. You can see an example completed application ticket here.

If a tester applies to the FAS group, but does not submit a corresponding TRAC ticket, reach out to the applicant directly by email using the email associated with their FAS account. Welcome their application and request that they also file a ticket for proper tracking.

External Links

• Bodhi
• Bugzilla