On 11-Apr-99 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> 2> Other mechanisms do now exist. The Linux community at large has
> built mechanisms for announcing/cataloging/advertising software. There
> is no good reason why we should not use these mechanisms too. Examples
> are http://freshmeat.net/ and the Linux Software Map.
Yes, we should use freshmeat, but we also need a website (not ftp, or
least only ftp) that holds information about Linux and Ham radio.
>
> 3> The idea of the HAM-HOWTO was that it would be a community generated
> document. That is, people would volunteer information about new
> software as it is developed and/or found. To their credit, some people
> have contributed, but I don't think enough have to call it a successful
> collaborative exercise.
It is not obvious that it is a community generated document and in order
to make it so one must provide an easy mechanism to do the updating. There is
no formal or easy to use mechanism to do this in place (e-mail by itself
doesn't count).
>
> 4> I think it's time that the Linux/Ham community realised that we
> cannot afford to remain an insular community. We are part of the larger
> Linux community just as much as we are part of the larger amateur radio
> community. I see plenty of examples of a tendency amongst hams to only
> want to deal with hams on linux matters, this is inefficient and
> somewhat silly - the use of the linux-hams mailing list for
> non-amateur-radio related questions is prime.
Yes, but it was ever thus. Any identifiable group that has a strong bond will
tend to want to deal with itself, first, before going outside. I don't think
that level of such posts to this mailing list is excessive.
>
>
> To this end, I'd like to hear your opinion on what the best alternative
> solution to the problem of how to enable people to find amateur radio
> software for Linux.
>
> Some ideas that I have are:
>
> 1> Use freshmeat.net
Yes.
> 2> Provide a web site, like Joops, and extend it such that it is able
> to automatically produce textual catalogs that could be posted
> periodically on usenet/mailing lists etc. for those that don't have
> interactive net access, and all else could use the web site when
> they're looking for software.
Yes.
> 3> your idea here.
>
But this isn't sufficient. There needs to be a place where people can obtain
step by step information on how to setup the software, that you are cataloging
so dilligently.
So this website (good idea) must contain the instructional parts of the
HOW-TO and have a form based, moderated, response page that either allows
people to add stuff to the 'HOW-TO' or generates an FAQ or both.
The instructions should still be brought up to date first.
Regards
Dirk G1TLH
---
Dirk-Jan Koopman, Tobit Computer Co Ltd
At the source of every error which is blamed on the computer you will find
at least two human errors, including the error of blaming it on the computer.
