[mythtv-users] Mailing list and a Wiki... and a dessert topping

[Kevin Kuphal]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org 
> [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of David
> Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 5:32 PM
> To: Discussion about mythtv
> Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Mailing list and a Wiki... and a 
> dessert topping
> 
> 
> Isaac Richards wrote:
> 
> >On Monday 17 May 2004 04:15 pm, David wrote:
> >  
> >
> >>PS for those getting fed up of me mentioning this, I do apologise
> >>(really) but a lot of folks still won't realise that 
> there's a MythTV 
> >>Wiki (err, here:
> >>  http://www.mythtv.info/
> >>)
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >And let me point out that this isn't offical, nor will I 
> link to from 
> >the main
> >website.
> >  
> >
> Harsh - but that's your site and so your perogative.
> 
> >If you want to work on docs, contribute back to the official docs.  
> >Don't
> >fragment the effort by using random wikis.
> >
> Did you catch the bit on the frontpage where it says:
> Well the main thing is that we're here to supplement 
> MythTV.org - in fact, as information gets added, mixed, 
> checked and refined here we hope it will make its way via 
> patches, docs and other winding routes into core MythTV or 
> one of its modules.
> 
> And as evidence that this may work...How many patches have 
> you received to the official docs in the last month? From 
> non-developers? There have been 42 contributions to 
> Mythtv.info by 10 people in the last month (mainly in the 
> last few days). Possibly due to the low barrier to entry for 
> those not blessed(?) with CVS and docbook skills.
> 
> Can I suggest you temper your absolute statement with 'unless 
> it becomes a useful resource for the community to work on the docs'.
> 
> If it doesn't catch on it will die _without_ assistance.

You hit the nail on the head with the comment about CVS and docbook.  As a
developer who has submitted patches against the code tree, even I find it
daunting to contemplate documentation changes using that method whereas a
wiki makes sense to me and the barrier to entry is low.  I too hope that
Isaac reconsiders his stance on things that he doesn't wish to support with
his own time and consider that there are many others out there related to
this project who would support it and need only a simple link from his site
to impove the community that does use his product.

Kevin