Re: [kDev] He!p needed on the technical side...

[Kyrian <kyrian@xxxxxxx>]

All,

Please excuse the extreme brevity, but Netscape just died on me, killing
a big email, and besides, I want to get on with some serious drinking
;-)

Some useful free software you could use that I've come accross...

For collaborative discussion, use TWiki:

http://www.twiki.org/

Web based, secureable, flexible, revision control, collaborative, does
funky stuff with referential lookups... etc.

I have a test version of that kicking around somewhere if people want to
look at it.

For project/request management, use RT:

http://www.fsck.com/projects/rt/

It's more geared to request tracking (cunningly enough since it's called
Request Tracker!), rather than project management, but it could be
useful, although I could be understating its usefulness here because
there was a massive jump in flexibility and functionality between
version 1.3 (which I've used) and version 2 (which I haven't really
used). Again, I have a test version kicking around (of version 2).

I've already mentioned mailman, and it's by far the best thing I've seen
for the sort of list management that you seem to require. It certainly
would beat majordomo hands down!

Anyway, all of the above play nicely with Apache and standard linux
stuff, which it sounds like you're using (?).

And for the "peace of mind" element about the website and stuff, well,
I'm currently configuring the netsaint system for my own purposes(ie.
servers), and I don't mind if Kendra piggybacks that for remote
monitoring if you want... As long as it doesn't go down regularly and
give me a massive phone bill as a result of loads of pages going out ;)

As far as actual coding goes, well, I could lend a hand with the PHP
stuff for the website, but if you're talking anything more
hardcore/mission critical than that, then I'd rather stay out of it...

And if someone is needed to keep an eye on technical stuff, well, I'd
consider doing that as well...

Enough of my ranting already ;-)

Yours,

Kev.

Daniel Harris wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Thanks for your support Kev. I'll try and tell you what's needed...
> 
> I have never worked on an open source coding project so I know very little
> about good coding procedures, structure, documentation, mile stones, CVS,
> project management, etc. For Kendra to fly we need to have a group of
> people that can do these things (and code of course). You, with your Kendra
> developer hats on, need  to take responsibility for the technical side of
> the project. You need to organise your selves, get a leader or go borg and
> have a spokes person (rotate as required). Hold meetings if you wish. I'll
> come along if you want me there. You must tell us (this list) what you
> require - what do you need to know? To kick off here are my first thoughts...
> 
> I need to have peace of mind when it comes to the webserver hosting Kendra.
> Never having to call someone to say that it's gone down. To know that
> people will be sorting it whatever the problem. To know it will be someone
> else's responsibility so I can get on with other areas of the project.
> 
> I need to be able to come to a team of developers with ideas that need to
> be implemented and have a discussion on how to go about it - as long as the
> ideas are any good. Other people (like marketing) will have coding needs
> and you will have needs on the other parts of Kendra Initiative too - like
> getting more ISPs and content on the trials. And also you'll come to the
> rest of us with ideas of your own. It's not just a one way thang.
> 
> I've got loads of things I need coded. Have a look at:
> http://www.kendra.org.uk/develop-readme.txt
> I'm seeing the beauty of having everything in a database to increase
> automation on the website. It so reduces manual labour administration. For
> beginnings of automating the event organisers and events and discounts see:
> http://www.kendra.org.uk/event-details.php#event-details
> At the moment it just sends of an email rather than putting stuff in a
> database.
> 
> I'd love to see beautiful code. Kendra should be a work of art (not a slap
> together thing). The very interesting thing about this project is that it
> spans across so many people. It's not simply a techy open source project.
> It's got a heavy slant into the corporate/marketing/conference world. Also,
> it's funky with video and music - we haven't even really started to hit any
> of the media folks for their support yet.
> 
> I think the value within Kendra Initiative of being open and transparent
> and equality will pull us through. So, GO TELL YOUR TECH FRIENDS! If you
> know other people that can do this stuff. That's all I'm doing here really
> - trying to get the people who can (and want to).
> 
> If we need funding then we'll get funding. You guys and girls just need to
> take ownership of this. I'm done with doing this piecemeal. We need to get
> serious about this and get it sorted. We need to have this project scale
> much larger than it is now.
> 
> If what I'm asking for is not possible (or I'm saying it wrong) it's really
> important that you let me know so that I can rethink all this. That said,
> what do you think?
> 
> As for the Majordomo/Mailman/Somethingelse debate. I think it's only
> indicative of the problem that my forte is not managing the technical side
> of this project. I don't think either Majordomo or Mailman really do what
> we need (apart from the very short term). For where I think we should be
> going see my posting on collaborative systems over on kFW:
> http://www.kendra.org.uk/lists/archive/k-framework/msg00024.html
> 
> It's great the amount of support this project has received from those on
> this list and elsewhere. There is so much potential. To take this project
> forward it must grow and change and have people take ownership of it and be
> responsible for taking care of it. Share this with me...
> 
> I look forward to it!...
> 
> Cheers Daniel
> 
> At 12:14 25/01/02 +0000, Kyrian wrote:
>  >In response to the request for techies, I'll help in any way I can on
>  >the technical side, if the relevant people can tell me what is needed.

--
Kev Green, aka Kyrian.   Email: kyrian@xxxxxxx   Web:
http://kyrian.ore.org/
  [ Looking for ISP contract work, CV at http://kyrian.ore.org/cv.html ]
           "Life is the sieve through which my anarchy strains,
                     resolving itself into words" -- Bad Religion.