monkeygod had an idea
here. It seems there are some people who are simply unaware that their posts about a different rom software (available in the CDMA and GSM upgrades section) actually matter. Besides the harmless chatter, most developers take the time to read what everyone says, and makes the changes accordingly.
I have constructed an ever changing guideline to help you make the most of your experience here at PPCGeeks.
Constructive Criticism Tip 1:
be specific.
"
this rom is soooo buggy. phone always locks up, never does what i want it to, this is stupid, i cant believe we waited this long for this crap, etc" does
not help anyone. The more posts a developer has to read and decypher, the longer it takes to fix the problems a rom has. If you do have a genuienly have a completely buggy experience with the rom, there are a few factors out of the chute that might be causing them.
- bad download: software on the internet actually isnt stored next door to you. sometimes it can be stored thousands of miles away. sometimes while going to your computer, glitches, missplaced data, etc happens. Try to re-download and see if you get the same problem.
- Bad flash: 1 word. Task29. this program mimics a function that "stock" roms preform and wipes out all data on a phone, just so there isnt any traces of software that could be left over from a previous build.
- Need for Clear storage: Usually, after an update utility finishes, it removes most installer files to ensure the Maximum memory available. In most cases, some of the software is left behind, and just takes up space. A clear storage can help ensure you get the most out of a rom.
If none of these fix the problem, next step is to let the developer know their rom is acting weird on your phone. when letting them know, try to be precise. They are "troubleshooting" your phone without looking at it, so unless you draw them a picture, they are shooting blanks.
Things like:
- This rom seemed to freeze every time I entered "x" application.
- I keep getting "Application error 500" whenever I use the File Explorer
- My Touch Pro 2 keeps typing an "F" any time i slide the keyboard out after switching out to baller-status rom
These things are actually helpful in isolating problems with particular builds.
Constructive Criticism Tip 2:
if you dont know how to fix the problem, dont become one.
Contrary to popular belief, there is not a perfect rom. I am sorry, but perfect rom's and Santa Clause all live together in imagination land. Unless somebody in their "infinate wisdom" builds an imaginary car that goes there, thats the way its gonna be. Developers use their free time to try to make something that pleasing for
mostly everybody. if you arent pleased with a rom version, please be constructive about it. What dont you like about it? What problems are you having? What would you like to see? Do you not like having to customize everything every time you flash? there are programs specially built in to help you make the best of your experience. All you have to do is ask!
some of the easiest things I have ever had to fix at Sprint are people who just do not know what to do when a problem arises.
On the other hand, if you are a developer, software programmer, or a user with skill in fixing or modding things, let us know! Its helpful to have a problem fixed before the rom developer even takes a look at it. gives them more free time to partake in human pleasures, instead of keeping their eyes glued to the screen all night long.
Examples of this are:
- "my phone wont lock whenever i flip it up side down" Ive had this problem too! i just installed this .cab file and it worked like a charm!
- "Whenever I access text messages, my phone completely resets" my version does this as well. after pouring through the registry, I see that HTC messenger is set to access a program that doesnt exist anymore. I have notified (programmer x) via PM so they can integrate it into their next release. do this (insert temp fix instructions here) and you should be good!
Constructive Criticism Tip 3:
Donating to a particular developer or project does not make you King Hippo. A donation is only a donation.
I will go ahead and appologize if this post causes any people to refrain from donating. but this is something that has to be said.
A donation does not make you project manager, slave driver, or entitle you to be a jerk. it only entitles you to a sense of pride that you are supporting the hard work of someone else. other than that, you dont get special privileges, you arent entitled to beta test things, you dont get special support, and you deffinately dont get permission to gripe and complain when things dont go your way.
Constructive Criticism Tip 4:
Use the Search Function.
I dont mind answering the same questions over and over. I really dont. Its my job, and i love my job. Most people here dont as well, but will give you a hard time anyways. Only problem with asking someone a question is waiting for someone to respond to you. If you are needing an answer right now, chances are it has already been answered before. Using the search function makes it easy to fix your problems almost instantly, and reduces on clutter.
Given the Moderators dont wipe this off the face of the earth, I will edit this post and make it more insightful and add more things as need arises. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to PM me and ill see about adding it! PM's that arent constructive will most likely be deleted and forgotten about.