Discussion Forums/Request For Comment: Difference between revisions

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=== Google Groups Syncing ===
=== Google Groups Syncing ===


Discussion Forums are synchronized from email to nntp newsgroups (the Usenet), hosted at [nntp://news.mozilla.org/ nntp://news.mozilla.org/]. These newsgroup messages are synced by Google Groups and in turn provide a web interface to post responses that then show up correctly as expected on the email list. For various reasons, Google Groups has had trouble [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=716007 reliably syncing posts] from our newsgroups, in particularly new Forums that get created from time to time. This inconsistency causes confusion and fragmentation of the conversation, and ultimately frustration.
Discussion Forums are synchronized from email to NNTP newsgroups (the Usenet), hosted at [news://news.mozilla.org/ nntp://news.mozilla.org/]. These newsgroup messages are synced by Google Groups and in turn provide a web interface to post responses that then show up correctly as expected on the email list. For various reasons, Google Groups has [http://blog.gerv.net/2012/07/google-groups-fail/ had trouble reliably syncing posts] from our mozilla.* newsgroups([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=716007 bug 716007], in particularly new Forums that get created from time to time. This inconsistency causes confusion and fragmentation of the conversation, and ultimately frustration.


=== Newsgroup gateways break threading ===
=== Newsgroup gateways break threading ===
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(added by asuth)
(added by asuth)
=== Unreliable Web archive creation (Google Groups) ===
Google has had trouble creating new groups for new Mozilla lists. We have also had trouble getting the groups created in a timely manner. There are still several Mozilla lists without Web visible archives. (See {{bug|716007}}) We need a more reliable Web archive solution.
=== Unreliable archive - some messages aren't archived (Google Groups) ===
As Myk describes [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=716007#c40 here], some messages to a mailing list may not make it to the corresponding Google Group. We need a reliable archive of our discussions.
=== Long Term Future of Google Groups? ===
It's unclear (to me) what Google's long-term commitment will be to the Google Groups archives. When first launched it provided a significant advancement (for the time) in making Usenet more broadly accessible, and they made a big push to make it a rich archive (eg Dejanews acquisition, incorporation of backup tapes from the early days of Usenet).
Since then the UI has become stale (though not long ago it got a much-needed refresh), it has a spotty quality record (see other sections in this document, and I've seen issues in non-Mozilla groups too), and the usage of Usenet as a discussion medium has continued to drop.
As we a consider a replacement, if we use a 3rd party service we should consider if and how we are able to extract/mirror content so it can be migrated in the future.
=== Stuck in a Web 0.1 World ===
I know, I know. Those kids using HTML in your email need to get off your lawn.
But every participatory environment on the web these days allows some form of rich content. Images, link previews, content formatting, etc. As one example, look at how useful [http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12748246/sorting-1-million-8-digit-numbers-in-1mb-of-ram/ StackOverflow answers] can be when answers have visual explanations and nicely formatted code.
The inability to include images makes the current forum options useless for most UI/UX discussions (which is part of why you'll not find much usage from Firefox FE/UI/UX people there).


=== <<insert your own>> ===
=== <<insert your own>> ===
 
== Desired Features ==
== Desired Features ==


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A tablet or mobile-friendly interface, as a growing number of users will be using Firefox for Android, etc.
A tablet or mobile-friendly interface, as a growing number of users will be using Firefox for Android, etc.
[dolske] I would qualify this a bit: A first version should be readable on a mobile device. Given the large overall scope of this project, and the tendency of mobile device usage to be more in the realm of consumption than generation, a polished interface for contributing via mobile would be entirely fair to defer to a followup version. Especially considering that email/google isn't a great experience on mobile today.


=== Improved Moderation tools ===
=== 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.
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.
There must also be explicit moderation tools for list moderators. The inability to block abusive users, redirect disruptive threads, halt flamewars, etc is a major reason why many avoid the existing discussion forums.


=== Make it easier to spin up new mailing lists ===
=== Make it easier to spin up new mailing lists ===
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* Improved web API, allows for automation of common tasks (subscribe, create)
* Improved web API, allows for automation of common tasks (subscribe, create)
* http://wiki.list.org/display/DEV/Mailman+3.0
* http://wiki.list.org/display/DEV/Mailman+3.0
=== Jive Social Intranet ===
* Activity Stream
* Microblogs
* http://www.jivesoftware.com/social-business/solutions/social-intranet/features


=== Nabble ===
=== Nabble ===
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* http://diasporaproject.org/
* http://diasporaproject.org/


=== Jabber ===
=== SaaS Hosted Solutions ===


Jabber (XMMP) is a robust instant messaging system. Mozilla could create chatrooms that synchronize to corresponding IRC channels, but which are also available over a protocol supported by most modern Instant Messaging clients that new users are more likely to already be comfortable with. This would facilitate easier 1-on-1 communication in a safe and secure way, possibly even making use of @mozillian.org account names.
* Jive Social Intranet
** Activity Stream
** Microblogs
** http://www.jivesoftware.com/social-business/solutions/social-intranet/features


* potentially sync with IRC
* Zyncro
* provides secure 1:1 and multiuser chatrooms
** http://www.zyncro.com/en/overview/features
* connect with Adium, Messages.app, Pidgin, etc


=== <<insert your own>> ===
* ThoughtFarmer
** http://www.thoughtfarmer.com/
 
* Socialtext
** http://www.socialtext.com/
 
* Qontext
** http://www.qontext.com/
 
* IdeaPlane
** http://ideaplane.com/
 
=== Misc ===
* phpBB? This seems to be extremely widely used, and is the first thing I think of in this realm. Dare I say it also has the benefit of familiarity for Mozillazine users.


== Relevant Reading ==
== Relevant Reading ==


* [[Discussion_Forums/Problem_Statement]]
* https://wiki.mozilla.org/Discussion_Forums
* https://wiki.mozilla.org/Discussion_Forums
* https://wiki.mozilla.org/MozCampEU2012/Future_of_Discussion_Forums
* https://wiki.mozilla.org/MozCampEU2012/Future_of_Discussion_Forums
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