Microsoft creates public bug database for IE

Microsoft is for the first time encouraging people to give public feedback on Internet Explorer, with the creation of a bug database for the next version of its browser, the IE 7 beta.

The company admitted that customers have often asked why it doesn't have a public bug database, something that is standard practice for open-source projects such as Mozilla's Firefox browser.

"Many customers have asked us about having a better way to enter IE bugs. It is asked, 'Why don't you have Bugzilla like Firefox or other groups do?' We haven't always had a good answer, except it is something that the IE team has never done before," Al Billings, a member of the IE project team, wrote in a Microsoft blog Friday.

"After much discussion in the team, we've decided that people are right and that we should have a public way for people to give us feedback or make product suggestions," he wrote.

The bug database is accessible from the Microsoft Connect site and can be accessed by anyone that has a Microsoft Passport account. Security bugs and problems with earlier versions of IE should not be logged in the database, Billings said.

Ingrid Marson reported for London-based ZDNet UK.

[sailuver]

Well, they almost got it right

Passport started out, never caught on, and died everywhere but at Microsoft. It is nice that they are going to 'let the public' enter bugs but why require us to use Passport?
They need to get out more.

[capfan12]

Tis Simple

By using passport it will keep the anti-Microsoft, Linux and Mac head trolls from posting bugs. Becuase apon seeing they must sign up for passport they will become sickly ill and won't be able to fill out the form.

[bartszyszka]

Accepting bugs = having to fix them?

I always assumed that Microsoft never took bug reports publicly because then they would be obligated to fix them (or at least aknowledge them, which hasn't been Microsoft's strength). It seems pretty dishonest of Microsoft, the world's largest software corporation, to act like the thought hadn't accured to them before.

[OneWithTech]

It doesn't matter anyway.

Those that are talented enough to take the time to report the bugs
to Microsoft shouldn't be required to have a PassPort account.
Haven't you figured it out? PassPort is DEAD!

[bartszyszka]

Login required at Bugzilla too

I don't understand what the problem is. I don't personally use any Microsoft products, but shouldn't they be able to use whatever they want for allowing people to have access to their website? God forbid they use their own login tools. At Bugzilla you have to create an account too. How is this any different?

[rcrusoe]

Requiring Passport, keeps its numbers high

MS probably requires Passport on everything just so they can brag
about how many people use Passport.

Why no security bugs?

A way for the IE Team to track rendering bugs IS a good thing, but it's interesting that they're not going all the way...