# Issue Tracking Guide

## Document Information
- **Version**: 1.0
- **Date**: 2025-09-09
- **Status**: Active

## 1. Overview

### 1.1 Purpose
This guide establishes standardized procedures for tracking, managing, and resolving issues throughout the project lifecycle.

### 1.2 Issue Types
- **Bug**: Software defects or unexpected behavior
- **Feature Request**: New functionality requests
- **Enhancement**: Improvements to existing features
- **Task**: General work items or activities
- **Epic**: Large features broken into smaller stories
- **Spike**: Research or investigation work
- **Hotfix**: Critical issues requiring immediate attention

## 2. Issue Lifecycle

### 2.1 Issue States
```
New → Open → In Progress → Review → Testing → Resolved → Closed
                ↓
              Blocked
```

### 2.2 State Definitions

| State | Description | Who Can Set | Next Actions |
|-------|-------------|-------------|--------------|
| New | Issue created, not yet triaged | Anyone | Triage and prioritize |
| Open | Issue triaged and ready for work | Triage team | Assign and start work |
| In Progress | Work has begun | Assignee | Continue development |
| Blocked | Cannot proceed due to dependencies | Assignee | Resolve blocker |
| Review | Code submitted for review | Assignee | Code review process |
| Testing | Ready for QA testing | Developer | QA verification |
| Resolved | Issue completed | QA/Developer | User acceptance |
| Closed | Issue accepted and done | Product Owner | Archive |

## 3. Issue Creation

### 3.1 Issue Template - Bug Report
```markdown
## Bug Description
Brief description of the bug.

## Steps to Reproduce
1. Step one
2. Step two
3. Step three

## Expected Behavior
What should happen

## Actual Behavior
What actually happens

## Environment
- OS: [e.g. macOS 12.0]
- Browser: [e.g. Chrome 96.0]
- Version: [e.g. v1.2.3]

## Screenshots/Logs
[Attach relevant screenshots or log files]

## Additional Context
Any other context about the problem here.

## Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] Bug is fixed
- [ ] Fix is tested
- [ ] No regression introduced
```

### 3.2 Issue Template - Feature Request
```markdown
## Feature Summary
Brief description of the requested feature.

## User Story
As a [user type]
I want [functionality]
So that [benefit]

## Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] Criteria 1
- [ ] Criteria 2
- [ ] Criteria 3

## Technical Requirements
- Performance requirements
- Security considerations
- Integration needs

## Design Requirements
- UI/UX mockups
- User flow diagrams
- Accessibility requirements

## Definition of Done
- [ ] Code implemented
- [ ] Tests written and passing
- [ ] Documentation updated
- [ ] Feature tested by QA
- [ ] Stakeholder approval received
```

### 3.3 Issue Template - Task
```markdown
## Task Description
Clear description of what needs to be done.

## Context
Why this task is needed and background information.

## Requirements
- Requirement 1
- Requirement 2
- Requirement 3

## Deliverables
- [ ] Deliverable 1
- [ ] Deliverable 2
- [ ] Deliverable 3

## Dependencies
- Depends on Issue #123
- Requires approval from [person]
- Blocked by external factor

## Definition of Done
- [ ] Task completed
- [ ] Documentation updated
- [ ] Stakeholders notified
```

## 4. Issue Prioritization

### 4.1 Priority Levels

#### P0 - Critical
- **Definition**: System down, critical functionality broken
- **Response Time**: 2 hours
- **Examples**: 
  - Production outage
  - Security vulnerability
  - Data loss issue

#### P1 - High  
- **Definition**: Important functionality impacted
- **Response Time**: 24 hours
- **Examples**:
  - Major feature not working
  - Performance degradation
  - Customer-impacting bug

#### P2 - Medium
- **Definition**: Normal functionality issues
- **Response Time**: 1 week
- **Examples**:
  - Minor bugs
  - Enhancement requests
  - Non-critical features

#### P3 - Low
- **Definition**: Nice-to-have improvements
- **Response Time**: Next release cycle
- **Examples**:
  - UI polish
  - Documentation updates
  - Code cleanup

### 4.2 Severity vs Priority Matrix

| Severity | High Priority | Medium Priority | Low Priority |
|----------|---------------|-----------------|--------------|
| Critical | P0 - Fix immediately | P1 - Fix this release | P2 - Fix next release |
| High | P1 - Fix this release | P2 - Fix next release | P3 - Backlog |
| Medium | P2 - Fix next release | P3 - Backlog | P3 - Backlog |
| Low | P3 - Backlog | P3 - Backlog | P3 - Future |

## 5. Issue Assignment

### 5.1 Assignment Rules
- **Bugs**: Assigned to component owner or reporter
- **Features**: Assigned based on expertise and workload
- **Tasks**: Assigned to appropriate team member
- **Spikes**: Assigned to technical lead or expert

### 5.2 Workload Balancing
- Maximum 3 active issues per developer
- Consider story point estimates
- Balance new work with maintenance
- Account for on-call and support duties

## 6. Issue Tracking Fields

### 6.1 Required Fields
- **Title**: Clear, descriptive summary
- **Description**: Detailed explanation
- **Issue Type**: Bug, Feature, Task, etc.
- **Priority**: P0-P3 classification  
- **Assignee**: Responsible person
- **Reporter**: Issue creator
- **Status**: Current state
- **Labels**: Categorization tags

### 6.2 Optional Fields
- **Epic**: Parent epic link
- **Story Points**: Effort estimate
- **Sprint**: Sprint assignment
- **Due Date**: Target completion date
- **Components**: Affected system components
- **Version**: Target release version
- **Environment**: Affected environment

### 6.3 Label System
#### Component Labels
- `component:api` - Backend API
- `component:ui` - User interface
- `component:database` - Database related
- `component:auth` - Authentication/authorization
- `component:integration` - Third-party integrations

#### Type Labels  
- `type:bug` - Software defect
- `type:feature` - New functionality
- `type:enhancement` - Improvement
- `type:documentation` - Documentation work
- `type:security` - Security related

#### Status Labels
- `status:blocked` - Cannot proceed
- `status:waiting-review` - Needs code review
- `status:waiting-qa` - Needs testing
- `status:waiting-deploy` - Ready for deployment

## 7. Issue Resolution

### 7.1 Resolution Process
1. **Analysis**: Understand the issue completely
2. **Planning**: Design solution approach
3. **Implementation**: Code the fix/feature
4. **Testing**: Verify solution works
5. **Review**: Code review process
6. **Deployment**: Release to appropriate environment
7. **Verification**: Confirm issue resolved

### 7.2 Resolution Documentation
When resolving issues, document:
- **Root Cause**: What caused the issue
- **Solution**: How it was fixed
- **Testing**: How it was verified
- **Impact**: Any side effects or considerations
- **Prevention**: How to prevent recurrence

### 7.3 Verification Checklist
- [ ] Issue requirements met
- [ ] Solution tested in appropriate environment
- [ ] No regression introduced
- [ ] Documentation updated
- [ ] Stakeholders notified
- [ ] Metrics show improvement

## 8. Escalation Procedures

### 8.1 Escalation Triggers
- Issue blocked for more than 2 business days
- Priority 0 issues not resolved within SLA
- Disagreement on issue priority or solution
- Resource conflicts preventing progress
- External dependencies causing delays

### 8.2 Escalation Path
1. **Level 1**: Team Lead
2. **Level 2**: Project Manager  
3. **Level 3**: Engineering Manager
4. **Level 4**: Director/VP

### 8.3 Escalation Documentation
- Reason for escalation
- Previous resolution attempts
- Business impact assessment
- Recommended solutions
- Required resources or decisions

## 9. Metrics and Reporting

### 9.1 Key Metrics
#### Velocity Metrics
- **Throughput**: Issues completed per sprint
- **Cycle Time**: Time from start to completion
- **Lead Time**: Time from creation to completion
- **Velocity**: Story points completed per sprint

#### Quality Metrics
- **Defect Density**: Bugs per feature/component
- **Escape Rate**: Bugs found in production
- **Rework Rate**: Issues reopened after closure
- **First-Pass Quality**: Issues completed without rework

#### Response Metrics
- **Time to First Response**: Time to acknowledge issue
- **Time to Resolution**: Time to close issue
- **SLA Compliance**: Percentage meeting response targets
- **Customer Satisfaction**: Feedback on resolution quality

### 9.2 Reporting Dashboard
#### Daily Metrics
- Open issues by priority
- Blocked issues count
- Overdue issues
- Today's completions

#### Weekly Reports
- Sprint progress
- Velocity trends
- Quality metrics
- Team workload

#### Monthly Analysis
- Trend analysis
- Component health
- Process improvements
- Capacity planning

## 10. Integration with Development Workflow

### 10.1 Git Integration
Link issues to commits and pull requests:
```bash
# Commit message format
git commit -m "Fix user authentication bug

Resolves #123
- Updated password validation logic  
- Added proper error handling
- Improved security logging"

# Pull request format
Title: Fix user authentication bug (#123)
Description: 
Fixes #123

Changes made:
- Updated password validation
- Added error handling  
- Improved logging
```

### 10.2 Automated Actions
- **Issue Creation**: Auto-assign based on labels
- **Code Commit**: Auto-transition to "In Review" 
- **PR Merge**: Auto-transition to "Testing"
- **Deployment**: Auto-transition to "Resolved"

### 10.3 Branch Naming
Use issue numbers in branch names:
```bash
# Feature branch
feature/123-user-authentication-fix

# Bug fix branch  
bugfix/456-login-page-crash

# Hotfix branch
hotfix/789-security-vulnerability
```

## 11. Communication Guidelines

### 11.1 Issue Updates
- Comment on significant progress or blockers
- Tag relevant stakeholders
- Use @mentions for urgent items
- Include screenshots/logs when helpful

### 11.2 Status Communication
```markdown
## Status Update - Issue #123

**Progress**: 60% complete
**Current Task**: Implementing API endpoint
**Blockers**: Waiting for database schema approval  
**Next Steps**: Complete implementation after approval
**ETA**: End of week

@stakeholder FYI on timeline
```

### 11.3 Stakeholder Notifications
- **Issue Creation**: Notify relevant team members
- **Priority Changes**: Alert management for P0/P1
- **Blocking Issues**: Escalate to remove blockers
- **Resolution**: Confirm completion with stakeholders

## 12. Best Practices

### 12.1 Issue Creation Best Practices
- Use clear, specific titles
- Provide complete context
- Include reproduction steps for bugs
- Attach relevant screenshots/logs
- Tag appropriate team members
- Set realistic priorities

### 12.2 Issue Management Best Practices
- Review and triage daily
- Keep status updated
- Break large issues into smaller ones
- Link related issues
- Archive completed issues promptly
- Regular backlog grooming

### 12.3 Team Practices
- Daily standup issue reviews
- Weekly backlog refinement
- Sprint retrospectives
- Regular process improvements
- Knowledge sharing sessions
- Cross-training on components

## 13. Tools and Integration

### 13.1 Recommended Tools
- **Issue Tracking**: GitHub Issues, Jira, Linear
- **Project Management**: GitHub Projects, Jira Boards
- **Communication**: Slack, Teams, Discord
- **Documentation**: Confluence, Notion, GitHub Wiki
- **Monitoring**: Dashboards, alerts, metrics

### 13.2 Tool Integration
- Connect issue tracker to repository
- Link communication tools
- Integrate with deployment pipeline
- Set up automated notifications  
- Configure metric dashboards

## 14. Continuous Improvement

### 14.1 Process Reviews
- Monthly process retrospectives
- Quarterly tool evaluations
- Annual workflow assessments
- Regular team feedback sessions

### 14.2 Improvement Areas
- Response time optimization
- Quality improvement initiatives
- Automation opportunities
- Tool enhancements
- Team training needs

## 15. Revision History

| Version | Date | Author | Changes |
|---------|------|--------|---------|
| 1.0 | 2025-09-09 | Product Team | Initial version |