Re: [libreoffice-projects] [Proposal] A central employment-office-like web structure for TDF/LibO volunteers

Sophie Gautier wrote:

> I'm not sure you will have feedback before having done something, see
> we're only two in the conversation for now. So lets implement a first
> draft and a description of the process, we may get more feedback later.

OK, no problem.

So let's refine what we were discussing so far. BTW, is there already 
any official or unofficial draft document that can be used for proposal 
like this, so that there is a homogeneous approval/rejection process for 
project proposals?

Then:

I think we are now agreeing that such "central system" has to be a wiki 
with a simplified template for direct access of the open tasks of the 
different projects. See below other thoughts of mine about different 
topics below.

*About coordinators*

I think, but I may be wrong, that if we force developers directly to 
post their requests for help in a wiki, and "waste coding time", they 
may find that central system just useless and a duplication of bugzilla.

So, I'm in favor of a more important role of the coordinators. They 
should actually gather the requests *and* post them in the wiki.

That would ease the whole work process.

In fact, the current maintainers/contributors may send a simply email or 
compile a web form with their requests directed to a coordinator who, 
afterwards, will post them in the wiki. No further knowledge of the wiki 
(sections, tags, other formalities) would be needed for the current 
maintainers/contributors.

For wannabe contributors, the coordinators would be like the marketing 
contacts: people who are /trait d'union/ between outside and inside 
realities. Again, the coordinators may be contacted via email or web 
form or other means.

However, I think it's important, after the first contact and for more 
complex tasks (see classification below), to involve the new potential 
contributor in the larger discussion (mailing lists or via private mail 
with other developers/contributors).

It may build (a kind of) loyalty and not just a one time contribution.

*About the granularity of classification of the requests for help*

At the beginning of this discussion there were doubts about the 
manageability of a system that includes even 1-hour tasks.

After further consideration, I agree too that it would be difficult to 
manage such system.

Maybe, we need less granularity. We may classify the requests in a 
broader way according their difficulty and needed time to complete: 
Easy, Medium, Complex.

a) Easy: basic skills needed, shortest time involved to complete them;
b) Medium: average skills needed, average time involved to complete them;
c) Complex: high level skills needed, longest time involved to complete 
them.

So, the work flow in this central system should be:

1) a current maintainer/contributor contacts a coordinator via email/web 
form/any-chosen-mean and sends a request for help, by providing at least:
   1a) a detailed description of the task;
   1b) needed skills (i.e. specific coding language);
   1c) estimated complexity of the task;
   1d) possible deadline for contribution;

2) the coordinator classify the request according the wiki 
classification (Web Level 1: skills needed; Web Level 2: Complexity; Web 
Level 3: list of tasks)

3) a wannabe contributor picks a task up in the wiki and gives 
confirmation of such activity, via email/web form/modification of the 
wiki/other means;

4) the coordinator, for more complex tasks or activities with a 
deadline, contacts the maintainers/contributors and communicate that the 
important/complex task has a new potential contributor. Automation of 
this phase would be greatly appreciated;

5) the task is completed by the new contributor on his own or in 
collaboration with core contributors, and everybody are happy :)

6) the coordinator regularly checks open, taken by new potential 
contributor, tasks and verify that there has not been any mistake in 
assignation or that the potential contributor has not lost interest.

I think it's harder to write it down in this email than doing it as real 
process. ;)

> > BTW, I'm still puzzled from the @libreoffice.org @documentfoundation.org
> > and @lists.freedesktop.org division for mailing lists. It's nearly a
> > nightmare for a potential contributor to understand where to write and
> > why. :(
>
> We could may be reduce the gap between @freedesktop and the
> @libreoffice, but @documentfoundation is necessary for the TDF related
> discussions. Or may be it's not well enough documented, is that what you
> mean?

How I'd like the LibO web site home page:

[short description of what LibO, the software, is]
3 huge buttons: [Download] [Find Support] [Contribute]
[short description of what TDF, the foundation, is]

Then, under [Find Support]:

[*all* support mailing list *with* @libreoffice.org suffix]

[any other external and independent support system]

Finally, under [Contribute], other 3 huge buttons:

[Contribute money] -> Fund raising

[Contribute your skills and time] -> the central employment system we're 
discussing about in this discussion

[Join projects' discussion] -> *all* projects' mailing lists *with* 
@libreoffice.org + other external and independent resources.

By saying the truth, of course IMO, the current web site layout is 
overly complex and doesn't channels people towards what they *may* look 
for. I haven't found a tool to search the website too, except advanced 
Google search. Is there one?

Regards,

Gianluca
--
Lettura gratuita o acquisto di libri e racconti di fantascienza,
fantasy, horror, noir, narrativa fantastica e tradizionale:
http://www.letturefantastiche.com/

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