RE: [Boost-users] The Boost Community

From: Brian Braatz (brianb_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-05-04 11:31:21

Excellent ideas.

I hope this "happens" and is not another good idea that never gets
implemented.

:)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: boost-users-bounces_at_[hidden] [mailto:boost-users-
> bounces_at_[hidden]] On Behalf Of Foster, Gareth
> Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 1:41 AM
> To: boost-users_at_[hidden]
> Subject: RE: [Boost-users] The Boost Community
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> As a C++ developer, and a developer who is coming to appreciate the
> usefulness of Boost, I think this is a great idea.
> 
> There isn't really a focal point on the web for C++ developers, at
least
> not
> in the sense that Java developers have in java.sun.com, Mono
developers
> have
> in go-mono.net,  and as menitoned by somebody else, PHP developers
have in
> php.net. Boost certainly has enough clout to make this happen.
> 
> The idea of having the following C++/Boost oriented things on one site
is
> fantastic.
> 
> * blogs for people with influence over the development of the C++
standard
> (think planet),
> * blogs for heavy boost contributors (think planet),
> * documentation for C++/Boost with user anotations +
> * forum
> * news section feat. latest compiler news and c++/boost developments
etc
> 
> 	+ see recent work murray cumming did in adding anotation
facilities
> to gtkmm docs
> 
> I am sure there are more ideas, but that summarises the best of them I
> hope.
> 
> Useful links that might help get this off the ground.
> 
> - http://www.planetplanet.org/
> // will help with blogs
> - http://oswd.org
> // will help with site design
> -
http://www.murrayc.com/temp/gtkmm_book_with_comments/html/ch13s02.php
> // murray's annotation effort
> 
> It would be nice to get the site looking good right from the outset,
> whilst
> a "Name Competition" might not merrit a two month wait, I think
perhaps a
> site design competition would. Look at sites like the Firefox page, a
real
> central C++/Boost resource looking that professional would have to be
good
> for C++ as a language.
> 
> I hope my comments and thoughts add something to the discussion.
> 
> All the best,
> 
> Gaz
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Fernando Cacciola [mailto:fernando_cacciola_at_[hidden]]
> > Sent: 03 May 2005 17:42
> > To: boost-users_at_[hidden]
> > Subject: [Boost-users] The Boost Community
> >
> > Hello people,
> >
> > In 1998, Bemans Dawes wrote the "Proposal for a C++ Library
> > Repository Web
> > Site" (you can find the paper in
> > (www.boost.org/more/index.htm), which
> > lunched the Boost we all know and love today.
> > The focus of the site was and is the production of high-quality
> > peer-reviewed C++ libraries.
> > Over the years, Boost grew as a community of experienced C++
> > developers with
> > the will and means to share their expertise and work
> > contributing to the
> > highly respected Boost Libraries. Today, Boost is a somewhat
> > recongisable
> > part of the C++ programming community at large.
> >
> > Today, the way I see it, Boost as a community encompases only
> > the boost
> > developers, which are just a fraction of the larger C++
> > crowd. There are
> > certainly Boost users, but I don't think we can say both
> > developers and
> > users form a community. I think is worth and in-the-spirit to
> > reach out for
> > ALL C++ programmers of ALL LEVELS around an "extended" Boost
> > Community whose
> > main sharing point is not just the submission of high-quality
> > libraries but
> > also the efficient and effective use of the language.
> >
> > A Boost Community site would focus not directly in the
> > Libraries produced by
> > Boost but on C++ itself as the great language we all love and
> > on fostering
> > proper use of it (which includes mixing it with other languages when
> > appropiate).
> > It would be volunteer-driven, just like the Boost libraries
> > are, so the site
> > would be moderated but open for external edition (I think a
> > wiki would
> > work).
> > I envision it having home page links to the fundamental
> > resources for C++
> > programmers (CUJ,ACCU, "the" books, etc), blogs from
> > developers and users
> > (related to state of the art C++ and/or the boost libraties),
> > important C++
> > related news (not just boost-library related news), reviews, etc...
> > essentially, everything the will of volunteers can bring on to the
> > community. The motto being "fostering proper use of C++".
> > A minimum of moderation would be required but I assume not much.
> >
> > I know there are other programmer communities around (even
> > C++ focused). The
> > reason I propose this here (around Boost) is becasue I think that a
> > community centered around the Boost Libraries but reaching
> > out could stand
> > out for its quality in the same way the Boost Libraries do.
> > I also know that a newsgroup or mailing list is a form of
> > community, and we
> > have c.l.cpp.m and c.s.cpp. But they lack the verstile structure and
> > dynamism of the today's virtual communities. Also, somehow I
> > believe that
> > centering a community around the Boost Libraries would spread
> > their quality
> > into the rest of the site; to some degree at least.
> >
> > I welcome comments, ctricticism and I call interested people
> > to put forward
> > concrete ideas.
> >
> > Best
> >
> > Fernando Cacciola
> > SciSoft
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Boost-users mailing list
> > Boost-users_at_[hidden]
> > http://lists.boost.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/boost-users
> >
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