FSDN: · DotGNU · Debian Planet · Sorce Mage GNU/Linux · Advogato
[GNU-Friends] Sections: Front Page · News · Interviews · GNU-Friends · Diaries
Menu: About · Submit Story · FAQ · Donate · Search
This page brought to you by: Xinit Systems, selling server and storage systems.
Adding More Sections
By jonas, Section GNU-Friends
Posted on Mon Feb 18th, 2002 at 06:59:29 GMT
Something I feel would be nice to have is the ability for users to select for themselves which sections they want to see on the front page. Slash has something similar to such a feature, though theirs is opt-out (ie., "See all news, except for those in this, this and that section") and I think opt-in would be ever so much cuter. Especially when, if, we start adding more sections to GNU-Friends. Read on to learn about which sections I've thought about.

 

The first thing one should realise about sections is that they're not really that. They're more like channels, and channels can contain streams of news and non-news (like regular news updates or diary entries). One such stream is the endless amount of newly released Free Software. I've been thinking about creating a box that would display new releases of software that exists in the Free Software Directory. This should be doable, with a bit of tinkering since the Directory is sometimes lagging on new releases, so it should be combined with some sort of polling mechanism to poll for new software on the ftp sites.

But is that enough? Such a list of new software could only point to one or at most two places, such as the download directory and the softwares home page. If we were to create a section -- or channel -- for it, we could list so much more about it, starting with automatically importing the NEWS (if it exists) or ChangeLog (secondary) into the article mentioning the new release. This would also allow people to post comments related to the new release and discuss it right here on GNU-Friends. I can see some areas where this might be a good idea.

Following on the channel idea, I've also thought about something similar to that; an Events channel. An Events channel would function similar to the New Software channel, but contain links, information and dicussions related to upcoming and ongoing events that relate to Free Software. Of course, the problem with this is that they may simply be too numerous! But again, this might sometimes be useful. What do you think?
< Regular GNU-Friends Digests (0 comments) | Erik Josefsson on European Patent Situation (1 comments) >
Login
Make a new account
Username:
Password:

View: Display: Sort:
Adding More Sections | 2 comments (2 topical, editorial) | Post A Comment
[new] My opinion (#1)
by brian (#54) () on Mon Feb 18th, 2002 at 13:49:34 GMT
(User Info) http://www.network-theory.co.uk/

My opinion is to do one thing and do it well. i.e. to have a single theme e.g. gnu and free software news, and not make the site too configurable -- 10% of the work for 90% of the functionality. Personally I find slashdot far too feature heavy, and inconvenient to use. Maybe people who are using it everyday and commenting a lot like that level of customizability but I find it a hassle. With slashdot I disliked the fact that I had to go through quite a tedious process to edit out what I did not want to see, and then refine that process several times when I later discovered I hadn't squashed everything. And then late if I was working somewhere else I would find I did not have my password with me and could not access my preferences without access to my main email account, which I don't always have.

In comparison I like LWN, even though it contains a lot of sections I don't read, because I just page-down through them quickly in the one-big page format.

Some personal evidence against too much configurability came from xxx.lanl.gov where I was involved in implementing fine-grained subscriptions. There was much poorer take up on the subjects which offered fine-grained subscriptions. Alternative systems which offered keyword based subscriptions (the ultimate in fine-grained subscription) had even worse take up. My conclusion -- too much choice creates uncertainty and imposes a higher 'startup cost' barrier which discourages people from subscribing.

I'd like to see a separate mailing list or gnu.newsgroup for the GFSD updates, like the freshmeat daily mailing. I generally like to get updates by email for regularly changing data like the GFSD, since I generally work on a text console.

For events, why not have a weekly summary of Upcoming Free Software Events? I don't think this sort of news needs to be real-time. Similarly for software releases ("Major Releases this week").
--
Brian
[ Reply to This ]


Adding More Sections | 2 comments (2 topical, editorial) | Post A Comment
View: Display: Sort:

Verbatim copying and distribution of this article is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved. Images of gnu:s in the logo are © Free Software Foundation, Inc and distributed under the GNU General Public License. Comments are copyright by thir respective owner. All other material are © 2002 .