RE: [hackers] Notes From Meeting

2003-08-03 Thread Aldon Hynes
I want to pile on to Lynn's question.  I haven't seen what she's been
writing, yet, but I believe it is really crucial.  I've been working on
making my site something that would be good for the State of Connecticut.
As I've worked on it a little, I've been thinking about the sort of
questions that I imagine Lynn will have to answer.

1) How do I make the site look the way I want?

  I imagine a start to this question talks about Themes, lists the themes
that have been developed etc.  One question it leads to is:

1a) How do I get other themes?
  A pointer on how to get the themes, how to unpack them, where to store
them, how to turn them on and how to make them defaults needs to be
described.

2) I really like the (whichever) theme, but I really want my site to have a
graphic specific to my state (group, whatever).  How do I change the graphic
for (whichever) theme.

  I imagine comments about the graphic for each theme is stored under
drupal/themes/(themename)/images  It might be nice to list what the key
images for each theme are, as well as recommended sizes if you want to
replace them.  In my case, I create an Aldon4Dean theme as an early test.
It turns out that replacing header.jpg had it particularly easy to make my
theme State specific.  As a side question, should we recommend that themes
use specific names to make such changes easier?

3) The page looks good for me, but when my friend logs in, she just gets
'not authorized' (or whatever that message is.  How do I set up permissions
some everyone can see what I want them to, and a few people can even get in
and change it?

  A simple description of user roles and permissions needs to be provided.

4) Okay, now that I have the general page layout looking the way I want,
should I use books, stories, blog entries, static pages, or what to store my
content.

   Personally, I'm still trying to decide this myself.  I would love to hear
other peoples comments on that.  I'm still experimenting.

5) Related to that, if I want to allow others to write stuff, should I use
blogs?  Forums? or what?

   My guess is that this ends up being a personal preference.  I've done a
little with blogs in drupal.  They seem to fit in very nicely.  I've also
set up a forum, and they seem to appeal to a different type of audience.
You might want to use one, the other, both, or none.  What are others
thinking about how people can write stuff?

5a) How do I set up forums?

To the extent that you want to set up forums, you need to understand
taxonomy.  I managed to find my way through this with some experimentation,
but it was too much for my wife and I imagine it is likely to be a bit much
for other admins.

6) How do I get specific information to be on the side of every page?

   Here, blocks need to be explained, and especially, creating new blocks.
In particular, creating a block that has an image, which links to some other
site (e.g.  back to the dfa site, or to the meetup site) should be
explained.

7) Hey, this is starting to look like something.  I've heard that there is
some way to pull in articles from other sites.  Something called
Syndication.  How does that work?

   I think it is important to have information on how to pull in a single
site, how to pull in multiple sites, and perhaps even, explain how to link
in Yahoo Groups.  My concern here, is that I've done this using the standard
syndication functionality.  This uses 'bundles' and works quite well for my
purposes.  It seems that the proposed new import module works a bit
different, and requires taxonomy, and also really needs some way of keeping
the feeds from over running the server.  The old version apparently deletes
anything except the most recent 50 items from the feeds.

7a) I think the feeds are set up, but they aren't updating automatically.
How do I get that to work?

Talk about how to get cron running.  Like with other areas, this should
include both a Unix appraoch and a Windows approach.

8) Of course this leads to,  I hear that the folks at DeanSpace have
written, and are continuing to write a lot of neat addtions to Drupal.  How
do I get them and load them on my system?

Describe a repository that is simple to use.  CVS, SourceForge, etc, are
probably a bit much.  Also, we probably need to make sure we have modules
(and themes) both as tarballs, but also as ZIP files for the Windows users.

I think this covers a lot of the issues that I've run into so far.  I would
love to hear other peoples comments.

I would also like to encourage people to consider helping get initial sites
up and running now.  I think it will help formulate the real issues, as well
as get some sites running.

Comments?

Aldon

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Behalf Of Joshua Koenig
Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2003 12:21 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [hackers] No

Re: [hackers] Notes From Meeting

2003-08-02 Thread stantoam
When I was writing documentation, I made a different list. I looked at the
module page from the perspective: "what features will help build
community." i.e. relationships between data and between people

The list is on: Configure Drupal
http://deanspace.org/node/view/67

I expect that this list, made in the wee hours, will probably be changed:

blog
comment - allows users to comment on nodes
drupal - allows id transfer between sites
help - might help the grandmas before coming to the help desk
import - aggregation - though we're creating a supped up version,
locale - enables translation (hope all of the developers are using the t
function to allow this to work!)
node - allows core content to be contributed
page - same as above, probably only give permissions to administrators though
ping - think trackback
profile
search
statistics - to help admins
story - user submission (we're going to have to explain the differen to
people in laymens terms)
taxonomy
tracker - what better for community than to read one article, then click
to find all the other stuff they've written recently?

Forum should be added to this list along with an explanation of
forum/mailing list issues.

Not sure if book is essential unless we want to promote each site making
it's own Campaign Diary - How Dean Won Lake County. I would hope that work
like "How to Outreach Offline" et cetera would be centrally located so
there aren't 5,000 versions for people to try to collect ideas from.

~Alison

>
> Excellent point Lynn. I think the stock drupal modules we're including
> are:
>
>   - forum
>   - blog
>   - profile (which will be modded)
>   - book
>   - poll
>
> We may want to include more and/or have some of the above installed but
> "turned off" by default in our kit. This will allow administrators to
> add functionality not by installing anything, but by activating what
> already shipped with their kit.
>
> cheers
> -josh
>
>>> 7) Setting milestones
>>> DRUPAL/KIT:
>>> - A vanilla release
>>> - Feature list:
>>> - endorse
>>> - event (calendar)
>>> - export (rss transmitter)
>>> - import (rss recieving)
>>> - mailinglist (mailing lists)
>>> - make_block (makes a node into a block)
>>> - postcard (ecard/graphic endorsement)
>>
>> Sorry to be so late on this--this has been Hell Week. These are the
>> features
>> we're writing, basically; what about "native" drupal modules already
>> extant
>> in the vanilla kit and encourage admins to enable? Are we going to
>> ship with
>> forum? blog? weblink? book? profile? poll? wha? Is it more a matter of
>> stripping some modules out? Just trying to figure out what us tech
>> writers
>> have got to explain.
>>
>> Lynn S.
>>
>>
>>
> 
> Politics is the art of controlling your environment. Participate!
> Elect Howard Dean President in 2004!
> http://www.outlandishjosh.com/politics/dean/


-- 
"...somebody came along and said liberal means soft on crime, soft on
drugs, soft on Communism, soft on defense. And we're going to tax you back
to the stone age because people shouldn't have to work if they don't want
to. And instead of saying 'Well, excuse me, you right-wing reactionary,
xenophobic, homophobic, anti-education, anti-choice, pro-gun Leave it to
Beaver trip back to the '50s'. We cowered in the corner and say, 'Please
don't hurt me'. . . . Let's have two parties. . . ." The West Wing: "Gone
Quiet"




Re: [hackers] Notes From Meeting

2003-08-02 Thread Joshua Koenig
Excellent point Lynn. I think the stock drupal modules we're including 
are:

 - forum
 - blog
 - profile (which will be modded)
 - book
 - poll
We may want to include more and/or have some of the above installed but 
"turned off" by default in our kit. This will allow administrators to 
add functionality not by installing anything, but by activating what 
already shipped with their kit.

cheers
-josh
7) Setting milestones
DRUPAL/KIT:
- A vanilla release
- Feature list:
- endorse
- event (calendar)
- export (rss transmitter)
- import (rss recieving)
- mailinglist (mailing lists)
- make_block (makes a node into a block)
- postcard (ecard/graphic endorsement)
Sorry to be so late on this--this has been Hell Week. These are the 
features
we're writing, basically; what about "native" drupal modules already 
extant
in the vanilla kit and encourage admins to enable? Are we going to 
ship with
forum? blog? weblink? book? profile? poll? wha? Is it more a matter of
stripping some modules out? Just trying to figure out what us tech 
writers
have got to explain.

Lynn S.




Politics is the art of controlling your environment. Participate!
Elect Howard Dean President in 2004!
http://www.outlandishjosh.com/politics/dean/


Re: [hackers] Notes From Meeting

2003-08-01 Thread lynn
> 7) Setting milestones
> DRUPAL/KIT:
>   - A vanilla release
>   - Feature list:
>   - endorse
>   - event (calendar)
>   - export (rss transmitter)
>   - import (rss recieving)
>   - mailinglist (mailing lists)
>   - make_block (makes a node into a block)
>   - postcard (ecard/graphic endorsement)

Sorry to be so late on this--this has been Hell Week. These are the features
we're writing, basically; what about "native" drupal modules already extant
in the vanilla kit and encourage admins to enable? Are we going to ship with
forum? blog? weblink? book? profile? poll? wha? Is it more a matter of
stripping some modules out? Just trying to figure out what us tech writers
have got to explain.

Lynn S.



RE: [hackers] Notes From Meeting

2003-07-31 Thread Aldon Hynes
A few comments from my side.  First, I'm sorry I had to idle when you got
around to talking about migrating Wikki to DeanSpace.  I don't know the
particulars of my schedule this weekend.  I have to spend some time with
kids and grandparents, etc.

However, the goal of Porting the Wikki starting sometime Friday, and having
it done by the end of the weekend seems very reasonable.  My expectation is
that it is likely to be a page at a time.  As such, instead of blacking out
updates on the Wikki as a whole, my thought would be to black out pages at a
time.

e.g.  As a page starts to be migrated, put in a header
"Please do not update this page, it is currently being migrated"
and when the migration is done, changing the header to
"Please do not update this page, it has been migrated to
http://www.deanspace.com/?q=node/view/23";

I do have a few concerns about the migration.  My Drupal experience is okay,
but not great, so I might not be thinking of the best way to do this.
Suggestions are encouraged.

My guess is that the Wikki becomes a Collaborative book.  Is this right or
is there a better way?

My guess is that I will need to translate the Wikki codes into HTML.  Again,
is this right, or can Drupal support Wikki code?

I'm not sure how best to do the links.  One of the things I like best about
Wiki is it's ability to automaticially link.  Is there an equivalent in
Drupal?

Anyone have any other ideas on how best to migrate?

I have started giving the migration a test in my sandbox.  Go to
http://ahynes1.homeip.net:8180/drupal/index.php?q=node/view/25 to take a
look and to provide any comments.

Aldon

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Behalf Of Joshua Koenig
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 12:28 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [hackers] Notes From Meeting



Here are the high points from tonights IRC meeting; it was long but
productive.

Mostly I've taken note of things that seem "actionable" or which affect
our immediate progress. The most important thing that happened was a
hashing out of our "vanilla" site kit feature list. This is what we're
working towards for releast ASAP.

The High Points

1) LynnS needs a module list and a central place to store
documentation. Drumm suggests the book module. A feature-list was
decided on later in the meeting (see below).

2) Zacker points out that there's already been some talk about install
scripts and that some people have volunteered to coordinate.
http://www.hack4dean.org/phpwiki/index.php?InstallationScripting

3) Josh_k would like a mailing list or something similar to help
organize the MetaDean crew. Ditto for DeanSter. These will go up along
with the new DeanSpace home for

4) eponics suggest a "fixed" taxonomy for the kit, ping suggests the
same for people's interests/skills on deanster. The kit vanilla
taxonomy (and other vanilla concerns) will be discussed on sunday at
3pm EST in the IRC channel.

5) Madoc volunteers to be a press/PR coordinator; he will post things
to the wiki for collab-edit and send pointers to the wiki to an
editorial-committee mailing list.

6) Milestones: people will self-set specific milestones. We will agree
on general milestones in meetings, and rely on people to report on
progress. We also need to be mindful of "external" milestones.
  - Zack will be a "nudger".
  - Jeffk points us to phpCollab: http://phpcollab.sourceforge.net/
  - Ping suggests our milestones be specific
  - Zephyr points out that having a reliable sense of when things will
be done is very important for the campaign
  - aldon: milestones should be tied to the needs of others

7) Setting milestones
DRUPAL/KIT:
- A vanilla release
- Feature list:
- endorse
- event (calendar)
- export (rss transmitter)
- import (rss recieving)
- mailinglist (mailing lists)
- make_block (makes a node into a block)
- postcard (ecard/graphic endorsement)
- Not included:
- Action (may end up being part of DeanSter)
- Media (not necessary, potential hold-up))
- Needs tech support to be ready

8) DeanSpace:
- Polycot is donating server jail. THANKS!
- Neil is admin
- He'll be around IRC and IM tomorrow as the site goes up
- Josh, Zack, Madoc will work site copy
- Aldon has volunteered to port the wiki
- Neil will hack up a quick template, ask list for more support
- Timeline for switch-over of h4d activity: site ready for migration
on friday, migration finished by midnight sunday. Aldon will set
blackout dates for wiki migration.




[hackers] Notes From Meeting

2003-07-30 Thread Joshua Koenig
Here are the high points from tonights IRC meeting; it was long but 
productive.

Mostly I've taken note of things that seem "actionable" or which affect 
our immediate progress. The most important thing that happened was a 
hashing out of our "vanilla" site kit feature list. This is what we're 
working towards for releast ASAP.

The High Points

1) LynnS needs a module list and a central place to store 
documentation. Drumm suggests the book module. A feature-list was 
decided on later in the meeting (see below).

2) Zacker points out that there's already been some talk about install 
scripts and that some people have volunteered to coordinate. 
http://www.hack4dean.org/phpwiki/index.php?InstallationScripting

3) Josh_k would like a mailing list or something similar to help 
organize the MetaDean crew. Ditto for DeanSter. These will go up along 
with the new DeanSpace home for

4) eponics suggest a "fixed" taxonomy for the kit, ping suggests the 
same for people's interests/skills on deanster. The kit vanilla 
taxonomy (and other vanilla concerns) will be discussed on sunday at 
3pm EST in the IRC channel.

5) Madoc volunteers to be a press/PR coordinator; he will post things 
to the wiki for collab-edit and send pointers to the wiki to an 
editorial-committee mailing list.

6) Milestones: people will self-set specific milestones. We will agree 
on general milestones in meetings, and rely on people to report on 
progress. We also need to be mindful of "external" milestones.
 - Zack will be a "nudger".
 - Jeffk points us to phpCollab: http://phpcollab.sourceforge.net/
 - Ping suggests our milestones be specific
 - Zephyr points out that having a reliable sense of when things will 
be done is very important for the campaign
 - aldon: milestones should be tied to the needs of others

7) Setting milestones
DRUPAL/KIT:
- A vanilla release
- Feature list:
- endorse
- event (calendar)
- export (rss transmitter)
- import (rss recieving)
- mailinglist (mailing lists)
- make_block (makes a node into a block)
- postcard (ecard/graphic endorsement)
- Not included:
- Action (may end up being part of DeanSter)
- Media (not necessary, potential hold-up))
- Needs tech support to be ready
8) DeanSpace:
	- Polycot is donating server jail. THANKS!
	- Neil is admin
		- He'll be around IRC and IM tomorrow as the site goes up
	- Josh, Zack, Madoc will work site copy
	- Aldon has volunteered to port the wiki
	- Neil will hack up a quick template, ask list for more support
	- Timeline for switch-over of h4d activity: site ready for migration 
on friday, migration finished by midnight sunday. Aldon will set 
blackout dates for wiki migration.