RE: [Boost-users] Re: The Boost Community

From: Brian Braatz (brianb_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-05-08 17:18:57

Hmm...

Ok Dave made some pretty good points below. 

Thinking... The perspective I am coming from is this. I have been
connected to the boost world now for two years. I am a relative newbie.
But I am thinking back to the things that can "immediately hook" a new
person. 

I think the points you raised towards mine are all valid. I think the
disconnect is we are thinking about different use cases if you will.

I am coming from a "ok so a non-boost person hits the page, how do we
best speak to that person" point of view.

I think your points come more from a practical day to day perspective. I
respect that.

I can speak FROM the "newbie" perspective because it wasn't that long
ago for me. And I can tell you that it takes an awful lot of patience
and persistence to become someone who "sees what boost does" and can
actually start using it in projects.

The work done on the web site an the libraries is of excellent quality.
For that I applaud. But for the person coming in cold, the bigger
picture is difficult to get initially.

I believe the issues I am raising can be best spoken to by:

1- Driving and encouraging more use of the Wiki
2- I would place a link to the users boost list and the wiki somewhere
in the upper left of the page
3- Having a quick run down of each library also linked in the same area
(this was suggested before)
4- Having a runtime environment for boost (like CGYWin does) (I have
done something like this internal to our company- Dave- you may recall
me showing you this at oopsla) 

I believe these suggestions would help the newbie. Of course these have
to be balanced with the day to day needs of the day to day people.

Brian :)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: boost-users-bounces_at_[hidden] [mailto:boost-users-
> bounces_at_[hidden]] On Behalf Of David Abrahams
> Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 6:05 AM
> To: boost-users_at_[hidden]
> Subject: [Boost-users] Re: The Boost Community
> 
> "Brian Braatz" <brianb_at_[hidden]> writes:
> 
> >
> > [Brian Braatz Writes:]
> > Did some more peeking. Since I use outlook for everything (or the
main
> > page's archive searching) I was not aware of this view
> > http://lists.boost.org/boost/2005/03/date.php
> >
> > This speaks to what I was raising before. However it is not "in my
> > face" (I never noticed this view existed on the site before today).
> 
> Maybe because the main Boost web archive was only recently changed to
> use new software.
> 
> > I would like to amend my suggestion to be the following:
> >
> > 1- Formal link to the list on boost.org main page
> 
> There are lots of Boost mailing lists.  If we drive everything we
> think is important up to the top level it will become even harder to
> use than it already is.  What's wrong with
> www.boost.org/more/mailing_lists.htm, which is prominently linked from
> the main page?
> 
> > 2- Boost wiki links also a "first class citizen" link on the first
> > page I.e. it goes from the BOTTOM of the page to the TOP- and it
> > goes from being "Unofficial" to being one if not the FIRST thing on
> > the list
> >
> > My suggestion would be to list the left pane like so:
> >
> > 	Boost Wiki
> > 	Boost Mailing list (takes you to the lists view above)
> 
> I don't know about that; that view doesn't tell you how to post or
> subscribe to the list.  I don't think the "Boost Mailing List" link
> ought to lead people down a tunnel that only gives them a view of the
> archive.
> 
> > 	And then everything else
> >
> > 	Addtionally- I would add putting a link to the Wiki in the mail
> > (previously discussed) and at the top of the "archive view" link
> > above.  (responding to my own post)
> 
> Not sure about that one either.  We need some criteria to decide what
> gets driven to the top level everywhere.
> 
> --
> Dave Abrahams
> Boost Consulting
> www.boost-consulting.com
> 
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