Re: [boost] Discussion policy draft

From: Jeremy Siek (jsiek_at_[hidden])
Date: 2000-12-29 17:22:05

On Fri, 29 Dec 2000, Beman Dawes wrote:
beman> I've been wondering if library users might be better served by a web based 
beman> forum, since they can just post questions from their browser without having 
beman> to sign up for a mailing list.  They could also review questions posted by 
beman> others, and see the answers.
beman> 
beman> For example, see the way Boris Fomitchev at STLport does it: 
beman> http://www.stlport.com/cgi-bin/forum/dcboard.cgi
beman> 
beman> I emailed Boris, asking about the DCForum software he uses to implement 
beman> forums.  His reply: "DCForum is great."

I'm OK with a web-based forum for users as long as I can answer questions
via email. At ND we use a web-based thing (jitterbug) and I hate it
because I have to use the web form to answer questions . I'd much rather
answer questions via email, and have the emails show up on the web page.

beman>  >I'm not really certain what the mission of Boost is. If the mission
beman>  >is just to have a place to develop quality libraries then expanding
beman>  >the user base isn't really important. On the other hand if,
beman>  >propagating the libraries is part of the mission, then I think some
beman>  >thought should be given to the needs of engineers that might be
beman>  >interested in using one or more Boost libraries, but only if a low
beman>  >volume list is available (to help get started).
beman> 
beman> Both developers and end users are important to the future of Boost, 
beman> IMO.  Several of us are actively working on other parts of the end user 
beman> equation, like much better install and build procedures.  But it is also 
beman> time to look at the user support mailing-list or web-forum side of the 
beman> equation.

I agree. Many people I talk to are intimidated by the volume of
boost mail. Splitting up mail, or using web-forums should help this.

Cheers,
Jeremy

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 Jeremy Siek                        www: http://www.lsc.nd.edu/~jsiek/
 Ph.D. Candidate                  email: jsiek_at_[hidden]
 Univ. of Notre Dame         work phone: [phone]
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