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DOORS9727 2 versions with same version number - Poor Product Management

  • 1.  DOORS9727 2 versions with same version number - Poor Product Management

    Posted Sun November 26, 2023 12:26 PM

    I downloaded DOORS 9727 a while back.

    I was going to implement it recently but first went to double check if I had the latest version.

    IBM software website currently lists 9727 as the latest version so I thought I was good to go

    A bit later on I stumble upon this technote hidden away on an IBM Support web page while googling something else

    https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm%C2%AE-doors%C2%AE-client-9727-has-been-updated-and-re-released-10-july-2023-include-urgent-defect-fix-apar-ph54171-build-number-97849-build-date-27-june-2023

    Apparently there are 2 versions of 9727 with different build numbers

    The later version includes a critical fix

    I think this is poor product management to release a critical patch fix and give it an identical release number and then, to compound the problem, upload it to the software site with no flags or indicators for anyone browsing that this is not the same as the earlier 9727 available from the same place

    Yes there is a note in the readme but that is it.

    I think a critical fix of this kind should be flagged front and centre

    When I worked in the DOORS development team many years ago any fix that required a public release automatically generated a new minor fix version number with no exceptions



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    Sean F
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  • 2.  RE: DOORS9727 2 versions with same version number - Poor Product Management

    Posted Mon December 04, 2023 12:05 PM

    Sean, thanks for raising this. I will discuss it with the team.



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    Daniel Moul
    Principal Product Manager
    IBM
    Research Triangle Park NC
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: DOORS9727 2 versions with same version number - Poor Product Management

    Posted Tue January 16, 2024 03:12 PM

    Hello Sean,

    I completely agree: A (critical) fix must get a different version, not only an other build number.
    This really helps (us) to have a clear overview about and a good reference to specific versions, even in environments with hundreds/thousands of installations.

    Especially in this case, it was really hard for us as we found a crashing-bug (known 2 month before! -> PH54171) in 9.7.2.7 ("PH54171: CRASH IN V9.7.2.7 CLIENTS IF CHANGING EDIT MODES WITH VIEW CONTAINING A FILTER")

    Dirk.



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    Dirk Plaschke
    Software Engineer
    Siemens AG
    Berlin
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    Original Message