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

From: Stefan Strasser (sstrasser_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-05-08 18:12:31

Brian Braatz schrieb:
> 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 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.

I don't think people come by accident to the boost page(and they 
definitely don't to the community page) and need to be convinced that 
they need boost.
they look for a specific library/class and they've been told, "boost has 
that". later on they look what also is in boost.
at least that is how it worked for me.

so a community page(especially user comments in documentation) helps a 
new user to get into it. it is imho not the function of a community page 
to raise interest. (and I think it can't).

and I think the best thing you can do to bring a new user into the 
community thing is to have documentation and user comments on the same 
page(see php). because what a user definitely does is look at the 
documentation when he's found the library he's looking for.

> 
> 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
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Boost-users mailing list
>>Boost-users_at_[hidden]
>>http://lists.boost.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/boost-users
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> 

-- 
Stefan Strasser