Public SourceMage Discussion List

[Doubletwist <doubletwist AT spack.nu>]

[Please reply to the list, my email is down temporarily]

As we head towards a release of SourceMage 1.0, I think we need to take 
a serious look at the website and documentation. It has served us well 
during development, but the site is not at all ready for use as a public 
front to our newly released distribution. Here are some things I think 
need to be dealt with before our 1.0 release.


1. Documentation: This is of PRIME importance!!!!
a. First of all, where is it? The info in the Wiki [I'll talk about that 
later] is mostly out of date, very slim on real information, and often 
written as a "well, this is how I did it". We can obviously use these 
existing items as a base to start, but I don't think they should be our 
final documentation for 1.0, especially as much of it was written 
shortly after we changed our name.
b. While its good that everyone can contribute, I think we need a 
documentation guru [much like the grimoire gurus] to check submitted 
documentation, make sure it fits a common format, to check accuracy and 
readability, and to keep documentation up-to-date as SourceMage changes.
c. We need at the very minimum, official documentation for:
i. A FAQ  actually our current FAQ is pretty good ;)
ii. Getting SourceMage
1. Requirements
2. Getting the ISO
iii. Installing SourceMage
iv. Using SourceMage
d. Once we have that, we can work on more advanced documentation for 
things like:
i. Spell Writing Handbook
ii. Grimoire Guru Handbook
iii. HOWTOs
iv. Developer and contribution information
v. Etc&
2. The Website: As the main source of information the layout and content 
needs to be changed.
a. Front Page: The front page is the first thing people are going to see 
when they want to find out about our distro, so it needs to be designed 
with that in mind. I know its a horrible cliché, but there really is no 
second chance to make a first impression. Thats definitely true for web 
pages.
i. Font size  the text size for the links is small and hard to read. It 
needs to be a bit bigger
ii. Theres no link to Documentation!!!! Yeah theres a link to the 
wiki, but the users arent going to know that thats where we keep our 
documentation.
b. Information: The links you get by clicking on Information should be 
the same as the links listed underneath it.
i. About SourceMage:
1. Social Contract: - OK
2. Constitution  either we need to have one, or kill the link to it.
3. The Team  Either make the new team database, or leave the link 
pointing to the old org chart
4. Our History - OK
ii. How to Help 
1. What we need  either put something, or dont have a link to it
2. Join the Team  either put something or dont have a link to it
3. Donate  ok
4. Sponsor Us  either have some info or dont have a link to it
5. Contact Us  OK
c. Tools: Perhaps this should be changed to Developer Tools or 
something. Since other than the Wiki its all things for the SourceMage 
developers to use. Maybe make a User Tools section for user stuff.
i. Bugzilla  OK
ii. The Wiki  Ok, this is a tough one. As I said, it has worked well 
for the development of everything to this point, but I really dont feel 
its a good way to do official documentation. Its way too easy for 
someone to make a small change in some documentation that will totally 
kill someones box if they follow it. It also leaves thinks looking 
unprofessional.
1. It might still be a good idea to keep the Wiki as someplace for users 
to post tips on various aspects of installing and using SourceMage.
iii. The Codex  OK  IF its listed under a developer tools section. 
Otherwise most users wont know what the heck the Codex is, in which 
case it should perhaps be linked in the Get SourceMage section
iv. Browse the Source  OK if listed under developer tools, otherwise 
it should maybe be linked in the Get SourceMage section.
d. Resources:
i. Mailing Lists  This section is fine as it is.
ii. Forums  Ugh! I dont know about this one. Certainly at the moment 
it is a detriment to the site. No one uses them, and for a 1.0 release, 
new users might be put off by that fact. Also the Poll hasnt been 
changed since the First Poll was put up 5 months ago or so. I think we 
are better off sticking to the mailing lists.
iii. Contact Us  Ok, good info here already.


So thats all I can think of right now. Obviously I havent thought of 
everything, so this is far from a perfect setup, but I think it will be 
much better than what we currently have. I'm not just complaining here, 
I'm more than willing to help out. As a matter of fact, I was starting 
some documentation on spell writing, but I'm going to put that on hold 
and concentrate on some documentation for new users [getting, installing 
and using sourcemage]
Also, Im believe right now that Ryan Abrams [flipsidejones], our 
fearless leader, set up the website. I think that since hes obviously 
very busy getting SourceMage ready for its release, someone should be 
put in charge of the website that has more time to devote to keeping it 
up to date.

Ok, so thats a LOT more than my 2 cents& J

Doubletwist