permaculture

[webmaster@pfaf.org]

> ...if one chooses to see more detailed technical information on a project, the project table will point to a set of "specialty tables" like the ones I first posted. 
>
> > processes (element does some function/work/process)
> > outputs (element produces output)
> > contraints (element doesn't function in presence of condition)

If I were to implement this, I'd just use an off the shelf wiki, and 
write a documentation convention for how to format a page. Say

==processes ==
List processes here.
==Output==
List output here.
==contraints==
List constraints here.

In these sections you can add links to the appropriate 
process/output/constraint.

This would need very little setting up, it could be done in a day.
It would meet the need of most users, who basically just want to read 
things.

The next problem is searching, say finding things with a given output.
If bi-directional linking is used (say the category feature in 
wikipedia) this becomes quite simple, as a category page contains a list 
of all things which link there. There are extensions which allow complex 
 boolean logic to be applied to categories.

Why would I choose a wiki.
1) Revison control - absolutely vital for any community driven project,
you need to know who did what when. Be able to revert changes back.
2) Simple format - html is too complex for most people, filling in lots 
of fields is a pain.
3) All the basic plumbing is there: user logins, image uploads, 
administrative control, configurable display styles, spam detection.
4) Programming hooks in MediaWiki its relatively easy to write custom 
extensions for any features.
5) Maintainability, complicated code bases cause problems if the main 
developer goes away. Using a well know code base lessens this problem.

Its these things which take the time, and are hard to do right. CMS 
solutions may do some of this stuff for you.

Rich

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