a plan to open the new forum

Hi Friends,

Referencing this mailing list thread where I was asking for clarification about the status of the new forum: https://sourceforge.net/p/inkscape/mailman/message/36528042/. The short version is that I had the impression that development had moved into the background, and that it was no longer a priority to open it. But Martin indicated that's not the case, and that the next steps should be towards setting up management and setting it up to gain a larger membership and activity.

So I want to propose that we create a plan towards opening the new forum. And below I'll list what I see that needs to be done. And everyone, please help me with better formatting, and filling in any gaps that I might have left in goals or steps to reach them.

Goals:

-- set up forum management (staff, or i.e. admins and moderators)

-- build membership and activity

Means to reach the Goals:

SET UP MANAGEMENT

1 - Write the rules and guidelines for the forum, which will include the staff positions (management), how they are selected and replaced when necessary. I've previously agreed to take a leadership role in creating the rules/guidelines, and I still would be glad to do that.

2 - In accordance with whatever kind of process is decided on, select the new staff/management

BUILD THE MEMBERSHIP AND ACTIVITY

1 - To a large degree, the new staff/management would decide about the best ways to do this.

2 - But for the moment, I want to propose a way to start, because it necessarily involves my 2 websites. I would propose that we have a specific and well advertised opening for the new forum (as opposed to just opening it and not changing anything else around the community). The reason I suggest this is because it will also set a date for me to significantly re-organize Inkscape Community forum and website, and divert traffic to the new forum. This will leave only 2 forums open, and prevent those of us who answer all the messages from having to visit multiple forums for many months, if not years to come. Note that I've always promised that I will do this, whenever a new official forum is ever created, so it's not an imposition or anything I would be opposed to. But I won't do it unless there is a specific date (a month is ok, it doesn't have to be done on a single day) and unless the new official forum is well-advertised and announced.

Why? It seems the rest of the community is a bit allergic to the prospect of closing InkscapeForum (although I think it could be done without creating bad feelings, everyone seems to be avoiding the idea). But I suspect if the owner of InkscapeForum sees an announcement about a new official forum (and especially sees that it includes the archive which jabiertxof has made) (or it might take 2 or 3 announcements), he'll eventually get around to closing InkscapeForum himself. (After all, he has told us that he lost interest in the forum in it's 2nd year - it's currently in it's 11th year.) That should prevent the members of InkscapeForum from being too resentful, and hopefully they would then come to the new forum on their own. (which they are currently opposed to doing, afaict)

I would like to see the opening no later than 6 months from now, or if that's not possible, then to coincide with the release of v 1.0 beta or stable. But I would prefer closer to 6 months. Although of course it's all totally up for discussion -- that's just where I'm coming from.

Tasks

Writing the rules/guidelines

  • Post request for volunteers to help in mailing list and forums
  • Work together to write it
  • Submit to the community for comments and suggestions
  • Edit further as necessary
  • Not sure if this would require a vote?
  • Post the document in the forum

Build the new membership

  • Tasks for this depends on whatever guidelines are created. So TBA.

Set up an opening date or month for the new forum, and organize advertising and announcements

  • Need input from the rest of the team to create the tasks for ads and announcing.

Identify and fix showstopper bugs

  • List them
  • Prioritize them
  • Need input from those with more development experience than me

I looked at the labels, but I'm unsure which one to choose. Maybe it doesn't need one??

Thanks for considering this and thanks for your help.

Edited by Jonathan Neuhauser