Filter Mesh — Bug Triage Funnel (Infographic)
Best for: a funnel-shaped process where each stage rejects a specific class of item Avoid when: nothing actually gets dropped, or the stages are gates with owners rather than filters Answers: where the noise is removed from an incoming bug report stream
infographic sequence-filter-mesh-underline-text
theme
colorPrimary #2b66c4
palette
- #2b66c4
- #2f9e44
- #f3a33c
- #d1242f
- #7048e8
- #0f9b9b
- #c16f8a
- #7c5a3d
data
title Bug Triage Filters
desc Five passes that cut a raw report stream down to work worth scheduling
sequences
- label Deduplicate
desc Collapse reports that match an open issue on the same stack trace
- label Reproduce
desc Keep only reports with steps, environment and a failing revision
- label Classify
desc Split defects from questions, feature asks and expected behaviour
- label Assess severity
desc Apply the impact rubric; downgrade cosmetic-only findings
- label Schedule
desc Assign to a squad with a milestone, or park with a stated reasonData Shape
sequences with one entry per filter stage. Each stage should name the decision it applies, not the
person who applies it — the mesh rendering reads as a series of narrowing gates.
Key Options
| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
sequence-filter-mesh-underline-text |
Narrowing mesh with emphasised labels |
sequence-funnel-simple |
Classic funnel silhouette; use when volume loss is the story |
sequence-filter-mesh-underline-text at five stages |
The mesh needs enough passes to look like a mesh; three is the practical minimum |
desc per stage |
Names the rule being applied, which is what makes the narrowing legible |
Pitfalls
- ❌ Stages that add work instead of removing items → ✅ a filter mesh narrows; enrichment belongs before or after it
- ❌ Unstated drop reasons → ✅ readers will assume the dropped items vanished; name the rule in each
desc - ❌ More than six stages → ✅ each pass costs vertical space and the mesh loses its "multi-stage sieve" reading
- ❌ Using it as a workflow with owners → ✅ filters are rules, not roles; use
procurement-approval-path.mdwhen people approve
Alternatives
| Variant | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Volume loss as a chart | conversion-funnel-journey.md |
| Approval gates with owners | procurement-approval-path.md |
| Ordered steps with no rejection | customer-onboarding-journey.md |