Discussion Forums/Request For Comment: Difference between revisions
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=== Google Groups Syncing === | === Google Groups Syncing === | ||
For various reasons, Google Groups has had trouble | Currently, we rely on Google Groups to provide an interactive web-accessible archive for Discussion Forum posts. We do this by modifying the Mailman listinfo template. In contrast, standard Mailing Lists still provide a static archive of the mailing list posts to it. | ||
For various reasons, Google Groups has had trouble [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=716007 reliably syncing posts] from outside of its own interface, including blocking email posts from showing up correctly on the Google Groups newsgroup page. This inconsistency caused confusion and fragmentation of the project's attempts at conversation. | |||
=== <<insert your own>> === | === <<insert your own>> === | ||
Revision as of 06:01, 7 August 2012
Mozilla is interested in gathering feedback on how the community feels about the state of Discussion Forums (mailing lists, newsgroups) and how they can be improved.
Please contribute to this document.
Status Quo
At present, Mozilla IT manages two Mailman v2 instances, **one** for 'simple' Mailing Lists (various -AT-mozilla.org addresses) and **the other** for a Newsgroups + Mailing Lists (a.k.a. "Discussion Forums") which have @lists.mozilla.org email addresses, and corresponding Newsgroups hosted at news.mozilla.org, provided by GigaNews and synced to Google Groups.
Discussion Forums are the [primary form of communication] for projects within Mozilla, and are available over the most kinds of mediums: email, newsgroup or via Google Groups' web interface; all posts are synced (hopefully) across all other mediums, and the user not bothered with the details. To encourage the largest range of voices, we want to be available in a seamless way to as many formats and devices as possible.
Problems
SPAM
SPAM has been a consistent problem in the past and is tricky problem to solve outright. IT is deploying a well-trained Spam Assassin to catching incoming junk mail. SPAM that originates from Google Groups or from GigaNews' side (news.mozilla.org) is outside our direct control at the moment.
Google Groups Syncing
Currently, we rely on Google Groups to provide an interactive web-accessible archive for Discussion Forum posts. We do this by modifying the Mailman listinfo template. In contrast, standard Mailing Lists still provide a static archive of the mailing list posts to it.
For various reasons, Google Groups has had trouble reliably syncing posts from outside of its own interface, including blocking email posts from showing up correctly on the Google Groups newsgroup page. This inconsistency caused confusion and fragmentation of the project's attempts at conversation.
<<insert your own>>
Desired Features
Web Interface
The ability to reliably post from a webpage to a Discussion Forum (as would be expected in a traditional 'Web Forum') is sorely lacking from Mozilla. Google Groups (as mentioned previously) is not always reliable with our forums, and has a distinctly foreign feel.
Mailman currently can only provide a read-only archive of messages.
Mobile
A tablet or mobile-friendly interface, as a growing number of users will be using Firefox for Android, etc.
Improved Moderation tools
Being able to crowd-source the task of moderation would be a great way to encourage participation and ease the burden of current List Admins.
<<insert your own>>
Suggested Improvements
Mailman version 3
Mailman v3, has a number of promising advancements that could improve the current state of our Discussion Forums.
- Multi-domain support. Allows IT to combine the two separate instances of Mailman, potentially.
- Persona (OpenID) Support
- Web interface (Django) for administration
Jive Social Intranet
- Activity Stream
- Microblogs
- http://www.jivesoftware.com/social-business/solutions/social-intranet/features
<<insert your own>>
Miscellaneous
Mozillian Diaspora
Open Source 'Social Newsfeed' software exists. Should Mozilla pursue hosting Social Network tools for Mozillians (community members and volunteers, plus Mozilla employees)?
Mozillian Jabber
Modern Jabber (XMMP) is a flexible instant messaging system. Mozilla could create chatrooms that synchronize to corresponding IRC channels, but be available over a protocol supported by most modern Instant Messaging clients that new users are more likely to have. This would facilitate easier 1-on-1 communication in a safe and secure way, possibly even making use of @mozillian.org account names.
- syncs to IRC
- provides secure 1:1 and multiuser chatrooms
- connect with Adium, Messages.app, Pidgin, etc