What would you change about the FB ecosystem?

cha0s · Post by **cha0s** » Feb 08, 2010 13:37

So... if you had the chance to add anything to this site, for instance, ways to share code, automatic dev builds, a better 'archive' for user code/applications, what would you choose?

I'm asking you to think about it and really give me your best ideas. It doesn't matter if you think it's crazy or it'd be too hard... I'm curious to know what you think about improvements to the site in general.

I should also add, this was inspired by haegartheroot's post about the state of library sync'ing with FreeBASIC. So, in addition to the site experience, I'm wondering what you think about the process in general.

Please, share your best ideas to improve the fb ecosystem!

haegartheroot · Post by **haegartheroot** » Feb 08, 2010 15:32

Thank you for this new topic!

What about a sub forum "beta zone" where every forum member can announce his contribution to FreeBasic (e.g. new bindings for GTK+ 2.18) and ask the FB users to test it.

It might also be helpful to have a corresponding upload area (FTP server?) where the same user authorizations (user/password from the FB forum) apply to make things as simple as possible.

After positive feedbacks from several FB users and - maybe - a successful integration test with the existing/renewed source samples a FB admin could close that topic with the remark "[integrated]" and integrate the changes into the end product.

So we have development and testing in many hands and the integration in one/some hand(s).

This may help to speed up the FB development process and to ensure the product quality as well.

If the FB admins decide not to integrate the contribution into the end product, the remark could be "[extra component]".

vdecampo · Post by **vdecampo** » Feb 08, 2010 16:09

I would like to see a more colorful and snazzy home page, with screen shots and descriptions about the capabilities of FreeBASIC. Also to be an easy jump point to find downloads, forums, wiki and other stuff. If I can find a link to a site which embodies this I will post it.

-Vince

stylin · Post by **stylin** » Feb 08, 2010 16:32

For some time, I've thought that freebasic.net could redirect to a page in the wiki to act as a site portal, which would make it much easier to implement the kinds of things vdecampo suggested.

duke4e · Post by **duke4e** » Feb 08, 2010 17:20

Official automated SVN builds whould be nice. And I still miss offtopic cause I find this forums "too sterile". Also, enabling avatars, adding attachments to forums, and overall modernize the visual and functional part of FB home page and forums whould be awesome. I'm pretty sure that we have few talented designers who are willing to help visually redesign FB web.

TheMG · Post by **TheMG** » Feb 08, 2010 17:24

I think it would be good to, as vdecampo and stylin said, modernize the website, maybe through the wiki.

Leading on from duke4e, I'd like to see a more advanced forum software (this thing is years old), and a bit more liberal management, such as PMs, reintroduction of the off topic, avatars. I suggest SMF.

jevans4949 · Post by **jevans4949** » Feb 08, 2010 18:54

It would probably be good to have a more "open" archive area, where people could easily post some of the code that gets posted on these boards - even if they are snippets and partial solutions. This should probably be separate from more complete and tested packgaes in the main archive. We should also encourage people to place copies there, in addition to their own web sites. We've had a couple of cases recently where useful stiuff has been lost because the member and his web site have disappeared.

Personally, I prefer the dull and boring look of the forum boards. They are quicker to access, and easy to read for those whose sight is fading.

MichaelW · Post by **MichaelW** » Feb 08, 2010 19:12

jevans4949 wrote: Personally, I prefer the dull and boring look of the forum boards. They are quicker to access, and easy to read for those whose sight is fading.

I agree. It’s the functionality that matters, not the flash.

fsw · Post by **fsw** » Feb 08, 2010 21:33

MichaelW wrote:
jevans4949 wrote: Personally, I prefer the dull and boring look of the forum boards. They are quicker to access, and easy to read for those whose sight is fading.
I agree. It’s the functionality that matters, not the flash.

Concur 100%

And I do not miss a "OffTopic" section :P

Like this forum as it is.

Thanks

Post by **dkl** » Feb 08, 2010 22:09

- News update overdue:
0.20 is not the current project status,
but that's hard to find out if you didn't know yet

- fbc from SVN now/before gcc emitter is well worth the "official badge"
(many important fixes)

- wiki-integrated frontpage as discussed in <Using FBWiki as a main page>:
news, forum, archive, sourceforge (development) and the wiki in all its glory

- Is this a programming forum or an MMORPG community?

Zippy · Post by **Zippy** » Feb 08, 2010 23:21

fsw wrote:
MichaelW wrote:
jevans4949 wrote: Personally, I prefer the dull and boring look of the forum boards. They are quicker to access, and easy to read for those whose sight is fading.
I agree. It’s the functionality that matters, not the flash.
Concur 100%

And I do not miss a "OffTopic" section :P

Like this forum as it is.

Thanks

I agree.

OffTopic soon becomes a mud-slinging #%$@ that someone has to moderate constantly. Ask cha0s if he's willing to moderate ;-)

I don't see any harm in "frilling-up" the http://freebasic.net/ portal (I won't have to look at it) but leave the forum plain, please. PMs create more problems (especially for the dev). Avatars???

1000101 · Post by **1000101** » Feb 09, 2010 0:12

Other than nightly svn builds and allowing pm's I don't think the site needs much of a change. I like the small streamlined site which doesn't take 20 minutes to load if your DSL is knocked back to dial-up speeds.

Merick · Post by **Merick** » Feb 09, 2010 3:40

Change to board software to something that allows people to add attachments to their posts, with these attachments being automatically added to the archive. When searching the archive, with each file you could then have a link back to the post it originated with. Put a link to the archive right at the top of the board along with the faq, search, memberlist, etc.. links that are already there.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Feb 09, 2010 4:32

Most FBers don't seem to be bloggers, at least about what they're working on and releasing. That may make this idea moot, but I'd love for there to be an aggregated RSS feed like http://drupal.org/planet. It's been great for staying in the loop with Drupal stuff.

Perhaps feeds for new threads in various forums could be a place to start, or even just subscription to individual threads. I'll happily subscribe to anything rdc posts. : )

cha0s · Post by **cha0s** » Feb 09, 2010 5:12

Great ideas, guys... I'm reading all of them and thinking =)