Any news on a venue for the 20th?
Re: the website - A few thoughts….
At the last regular FSFE meeting we talked about having a set of web pages as a “front end” for the mailpod (albeit hosted on another server). I would be keen to see this achieved in as simple a way as possible, without resorting to overly complex layouts, and gimmicky scripts.
People visit websites for information – not to marvel at the layout. It is the duty of the webmasters to ensure that the information is clear, and easy to read – also that pages are easily navigable, and follow a logical sequence.
Another reason for keeping it simple is that the source should always be easy to understand, and hence edit/modify, by other people.
The principles are as old as the web. Eg. Take a look at this site – originally thrown together in ’96 for a walking group (no longer maintained, but left online for posterity). http://dbolton.co.uk/ramsig
Remember, this was an era when many people still used 14.4kb/s modems – hence the lack of inline photos – and why the linked photos are so small!
However, the same simple html coding can work today: See http://nucleon.co.uk/mftnet/ for another example (again, no longer maintained – mainly because the target group tend to use a facebook page instead)
So, what sort of information do we wish to put on the website? What is the website meant to do?
David
On Thursday 08 March 2012 12:41:23 D.Bolton U0970268 wrote:
Any news on a venue for the 20th?
I was hoping that Mark was going to post to the list about it.
Which venue would you like? Arcspace would be better due to local server access and lots of computers to use, but harder / less likely to book. Madlab does not have the above facilities but is more likely to accommodate us.
By the way the 20th is Manchester Free Software's meeting, so perhaps we should reschedule? Could you do Monday 19th David?
At the last regular FSFE meeting we talked about having a set of web pages as a “front end” for the mailpod (albeit hosted on another server). I would be keen to see this achieved in as simple a way as possible, without resorting to overly complex layouts, and gimmicky scripts.
People visit websites for information – not to marvel at the layout. It is the duty of the webmasters to ensure that the information is clear, and easy to read – also that pages are easily navigable, and follow a logical sequence.
Another reason for keeping it simple is that the source should always be easy to understand, and hence edit/modify, by other people.
I agree that it should be simple to read and edit. Perhaps a git repo containing markdown files would be best? This would allow people to edit pages who don't know HTML at all. We can always add support for dynamic content in future if we need it.
So, what sort of information do we wish to put on the website? What is the website meant to do?
Personally I think the most important things are:
1. Explain what mailpod does 2, Explain why it does it 3. Explain why people should use our services 4. Allow people to sign up and pay for our services 5. Look professional and trustworthy 6. State the association with FSFE and Arcspace
Too much, or too little?
Out of interest this is the Fripost site: https://fripost.org/index.en.html
Thanks,
Sam.
Hi Sam,
By the way the 20th is Manchester Free Software's meeting, so perhaps we should reschedule? Could you do Monday 19th David?
I have a clash on Monday 19th (every other Monday I help run a playreading group for Oldham Coliseum Theatre) - however, I'm not leading the session on the 19th, so could skip it (although the two people who normally rely on me for lifts will have to catch the bus home). So yes - if the 19th is better for everyone else - I'll be there (wherever we meet).
I agree that it should be simple to read and edit. Perhaps a git repo containing markdown files would be best? This would allow people to edit pages who don't know HTML at all. We can always add support for dynamic content in future if we need it.
I'm up for anything - I'm just concious that if we start debating it too much it might be next xmas before a sensible-looking site is up.
Personally I think the most important things are:
- Explain what mailpod does
2, Explain why it does it 3. Explain why people should use our services
Definately
- Allow people to sign up and pay for our services
Are customers all supposed to live in and around Manchester? Are we going to ask for their real name and address? Will there be any vetting?
- Look professional and trustworthy
Yes - we want people to feel comfortable enough to pay!
- State the association with FSFE and Arcspace
Certianly - even if only to lend us some extra credibility
Too much, or too little?
Enough to start with, I reckon.
Out of interest this is the Fripost site: https://fripost.org/index.en.html
Did Fripost actually get its initial 50 customers? If so, the text on the site hasn't been updated.
David
Sorry to be a pain, everyone, but I need to retract what I said in my post about being available on Monday 19th.
I really could do with being at the Oldham Coliseum meeting instead. (It now looks like I’ll be the only person there who will be able to fully describe the technical set-up for the production of Hound of the Baskervilles that opens tonight at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield - the play under discussion on the 19th).
David ________________________________________ From: manchester-bounces@lists.fsfe.org [manchester-bounces@lists.fsfe.org] on behalf of D.Bolton U0970268 [U0970268@unimail.hud.ac.uk] Sent: 09 March 2012 21:20 To: manchester@lists.fsfe.org Subject: Re: [FSFE-Manc] Mailpod Meetings
Hi Sam,
By the way the 20th is Manchester Free Software's meeting, so perhaps we should reschedule? Could you do Monday 19th David?
I have a clash on Monday 19th (every other Monday I help run a playreading group for Oldham Coliseum Theatre) - however, I'm not leading the session on the 19th, so could skip it (although the two people who normally rely on me for lifts will have to catch the bus home). So yes - if the 19th is better for everyone else - I'll be there (wherever we meet).
I agree that it should be simple to read and edit. Perhaps a git repo containing markdown files would be best? This would allow people to edit pages who don't know HTML at all. We can always add support for dynamic content in future if we need it.
I'm up for anything - I'm just concious that if we start debating it too much it might be next xmas before a sensible-looking site is up.
Personally I think the most important things are:
- Explain what mailpod does
2, Explain why it does it 3. Explain why people should use our services
Definately
- Allow people to sign up and pay for our services
Are customers all supposed to live in and around Manchester? Are we going to ask for their real name and address? Will there be any vetting?
- Look professional and trustworthy
Yes - we want people to feel comfortable enough to pay!
- State the association with FSFE and Arcspace
Certianly - even if only to lend us some extra credibility
Too much, or too little?
Enough to start with, I reckon.
Out of interest this is the Fripost site: https://fripost.org/index.en.html
Did Fripost actually get its initial 50 customers? If so, the text on the site hasn't been updated.
David
_______________________________________________ Manchester mailing list Manchester@lists.fsfe.org https://lists.fsfe.org/mailman/listinfo/manchester
i could also do with being free on the 19th as my Nannie is up from b'ham and I am teaching her to paint, might be nice to spend the evening too tbh. What was up with the 20th again?
A x
On Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 12:04 PM, D.Bolton U0970268 < U0970268@unimail.hud.ac.uk> wrote:
Sorry to be a pain, everyone, but I need to retract what I said in my post about being available on Monday 19th.
I really could do with being at the Oldham Coliseum meeting instead. (It now looks like I’ll be the only person there who will be able to fully describe the technical set-up for the production of Hound of the Baskervilles that opens tonight at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield - the play under discussion on the 19th).
David ________________________________________ From: manchester-bounces@lists.fsfe.org [manchester-bounces@lists.fsfe.org] on behalf of D.Bolton U0970268 [U0970268@unimail.hud.ac.uk] Sent: 09 March 2012 21:20 To: manchester@lists.fsfe.org Subject: Re: [FSFE-Manc] Mailpod Meetings
Hi Sam,
By the way the 20th is Manchester Free Software's meeting, so perhaps we should reschedule? Could you do Monday 19th David?
I have a clash on Monday 19th (every other Monday I help run a playreading group for Oldham Coliseum Theatre) - however, I'm not leading the session on the 19th, so could skip it (although the two people who normally rely on me for lifts will have to catch the bus home). So yes - if the 19th is better for everyone else - I'll be there (wherever we meet).
I agree that it should be simple to read and edit. Perhaps a git repo containing markdown files would be best? This would allow people to edit
pages
who don't know HTML at all. We can always add support for dynamic
content in
future if we need it.
I'm up for anything - I'm just concious that if we start debating it too much it might be next xmas before a sensible-looking site is up.
Personally I think the most important things are:
- Explain what mailpod does
2, Explain why it does it 3. Explain why people should use our services
Definately
- Allow people to sign up and pay for our services
Are customers all supposed to live in and around Manchester? Are we going to ask for their real name and address? Will there be any vetting?
- Look professional and trustworthy
Yes - we want people to feel comfortable enough to pay!
- State the association with FSFE and Arcspace
Certianly - even if only to lend us some extra credibility
Too much, or too little?
Enough to start with, I reckon.
Out of interest this is the Fripost site:
https://fripost.org/index.en.html
Did Fripost actually get its initial 50 customers? If so, the text on the site hasn't been updated.
David
Manchester mailing list Manchester@lists.fsfe.org https://lists.fsfe.org/mailman/listinfo/manchester
Manchester mailing list Manchester@lists.fsfe.org https://lists.fsfe.org/mailman/listinfo/manchester
Hi Anna,
There is a clash with this: http://madlab.org.uk/content/manchester-free-software-20/
David
________________________________________ From: Anna Morris [say.hello.to.anna@googlemail.com] Sent: 12 March 2012 12:13 To: D.Bolton U0970268 Cc: manchester@lists.fsfe.org Subject: Re: [FSFE-Manc] Mailpod Meetings
i could also do with being free on the 19th as my Nannie is up from b'ham and I am teaching her to paint, might be nice to spend the evening too tbh. What was up with the 20th again?
A x
On Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 12:04 PM, D.Bolton U0970268 <U0970268@unimail.hud.ac.ukmailto:U0970268@unimail.hud.ac.uk> wrote: Sorry to be a pain, everyone, but I need to retract what I said in my post about being available on Monday 19th.
I really could do with being at the Oldham Coliseum meeting instead. (It now looks like I’ll be the only person there who will be able to fully describe the technical set-up for the production of Hound of the Baskervilles that opens tonight at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield - the play under discussion on the 19th).
David
ah yes, I remember - well, I am free the rest of that week I think :)
On Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 12:37 PM, D.Bolton U0970268 < U0970268@unimail.hud.ac.uk> wrote:
Hi Anna,
There is a clash with this: http://madlab.org.uk/content/manchester-free-software-20/
David
From: Anna Morris [say.hello.to.anna@googlemail.com] Sent: 12 March 2012 12:13 To: D.Bolton U0970268 Cc: manchester@lists.fsfe.org Subject: Re: [FSFE-Manc] Mailpod Meetings
i could also do with being free on the 19th as my Nannie is up from b'ham and I am teaching her to paint, might be nice to spend the evening too tbh. What was up with the 20th again?
A x
On Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 12:04 PM, D.Bolton U0970268 < U0970268@unimail.hud.ac.ukmailto:U0970268@unimail.hud.ac.uk> wrote: Sorry to be a pain, everyone, but I need to retract what I said in my post about being available on Monday 19th.
I really could do with being at the Oldham Coliseum meeting instead. (It now looks like I’ll be the only person there who will be able to fully describe the technical set-up for the production of Hound of the Baskervilles that opens tonight at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield - the play under discussion on the 19th).
David
Manchester mailing list Manchester@lists.fsfe.org https://lists.fsfe.org/mailman/listinfo/manchester