KDE-Forum.org

I think you still have too many forums. It gets confusing... suppose I have a new install & have problems with getting Kppp to connect my modem. Should this be Installation? System & Configuration? Hardware? maybe Internet?

Why not just Tech Help? Then I would post
'KDE 3.2. on Debian (or whatever) can't connect to modem'
as subject.
As I said in the other forum, start up with as FEW forum topics as possible

->Discussion
->Tech Help
->Feedback
-> maybe Look & Add On for the ever popular screenshots, etc. (although these really should go to KDE Look)

add new ones only if necessary.

Don't have a special forum for KDE3.2 feedback, it will be obsolete as soon as 3.3 comes out. But definately have a Feedback forum.

This is one of the problems nOObs have with Linux, Linux developers in general tend to 'classify' subjects which end results in things like most used programs being buried two or three menus deep and applications being hard to find etc. For instance, why is Kjots buried as utilities->other applications? Isn't it supposed to be a quick & easy to access accessory application? Who would look for it there?

This was one of the really big things that made Windows 95 so much easier to use than Windows 3.xx series...95 introduced the concept of being able to directly access the application you wanted without having to first go through the thought process of trying to figure out under which 'application windows' it was.

Don't torch me for using a Windows example, and yes I know strictly speaking Windows 95 did not 'introduce' the idea and most certainly did not develop it but for most users that was one of the most noticable differences at the time. The principle is valid, free the user from having to go through a mental step classifying or declassifying the material before he (she) can access the information.

I dont think that each distribution needs its own seperate board. they are not used enough

There will always be a problem with finding the right forum to post a question to.

Maybe it would be easier to differ between using and configuration.

How about a structure like this:

- KDE system
- configuration (changing KDE settings)
- core applications (panel, desktop, filemanager, i.e. from kdebase)

- KDE applications
- configuration (e.g. setting javascript policies in Konqueror=
- using applications (he.g "how do I forward messages as attachments)

- KDE administration
(forum for questions for managing muliple KDE installations, e.g. KIOSK)

- KDE development


Applications could contain sub categories for different application topics, like the forum has today (multimedia, games...)

Cheers,
_

I'm still thinking really simple is better.

>>What do you think about a Administration board - maybe for problems with packages, control center, ... ???

Post questions seeking help with problems under 'tech help' (maybe just call it 'Help')

>>Maybe getting Edutaiment & Games and Graphics & Multimedia together in one board named Multimedia?

If the person is having problems with using an application, post under 'help', if it's some input or an idea about a multimedia application, post under 'discussion'.

>>>How about a structure like this:

- KDE system
- configuration (changing KDE settings)
- core applications (panel, desktop, filemanager, i.e. from kdebase)

- KDE applications
- configuration (e.g. setting javascript policies in Konqueror=
- using applications (he.g "how do I forward messages as attachments)

- KDE administration
(forum for questions for managing muliple KDE installations, e.g. KIOSK)

Already I'm confused. If I'm looking for help configuring Konqueror as a filemanager, I'm to post under KDE System but if I'm configuring Konquror as a browser (Javascript), it's under KDE applications. Why do I have to figure out if it's a 'system' or 'application' first? Just post under 'Help'.

>>Applications could contain sub categories for different application topics, like the forum has today (multimedia, games...)

Don't need categories. All that does is make the user try to figure out what the category is & break the board up into a lot of small forums (or categories) with only a few users each.

Think of a total nOOb who just wants help setting things up or something, he(she) doesn't know anything about whether an application is arbitarily clssified as a 'core app' or just an 'application'; he just wants help. Make it easy, keep it really simple. It will work just as well for advanced users.

If there later turns out to be a need for more forums, they can be added in but its more difficult to take them out.

I visit about three or four forums regularly, this one, Linux Format magazine forum and occasionaly a couple of others. LXF forum is set up with only about 3 active forums and it's WAY easier to browse & keep up with than any other even though the forum itself is buggy & really slow. Knoppix board also works fairly well with only about four or five forums to try to keep up with. It needs a couple more because it has particular problems with hard drive install.

Just had a look at 'Look & AddOns'. It's now 9 Mar, it has had 11 posts since 01Mar. Maybe that's not accurate...I just counted the 'last post' dates so maybe it's 11 active topics since 1 Mar. In any case, that's slightly over 1 per day, not really heavy traffic. 'Statistics' says there is an average 19-20 posts per day in all topics. Again, not really heavy traffic, certainly 4 or 5 forums could handle much more than this.
But you are right, it would be appropriate to have a forum for topics like this, it is not really 'discussion' but not really 'help' either. What to call it? Maybe 'Look & Add Ons' is an OK title.
The problem with Core, Multimedia & Office as forum topic names is that it still requires the user to classify his post according to arbitary criteria which may not be familiar. Is Konqueror sidebar media player core (with Konqueror) or multimedia? But if you're having trouble & want some assistance for sure it's 'Help'.
This board has used component based forums for a long time so I can see why regular users are reluctant to move away from them. So here's a suggestion: continue with component based forums (consolidate & reduce the overall number however) but also include task based forums (I guess that's what they would be called) like 'Discussion' & 'Help'. Make it clear in the forum index guide ('Post here about...') that the Help forum is for help on ANY KDE subject & that 'Discussion' forum is appropriate to use for anything other than tech help topics. Test it & see how the traffic flow works out. I'm willing to bet those two will soon be the most popular forums.
Drop the present 'Administration' forum, the name is confusing. I suspect it is popular mainly because it's first on the list. Most of the posts in it would be more appropriate elswhere, most are tech help.

Quoted

Original von zenok

Your example is bad because

Quoted

(changing KDE settings)

and

Quoted

setting javascript policies in Konqueror

is both in the KDE ControlCenter and in the Konqueror Settings dialog... you see we need one configuration for all. But I like your idea with core KDE ... I will think about this.

JavaScript settings are for KHTML, which is almost exclusivly used in Konqueror.
I know there is a module in Control Center, but most people change Konqueror settings through Konqueror.

Quoted

Original von CrashedAgain


Already I'm confused. If I'm looking for help configuring Konqueror as a filemanager, I'm to post under KDE System but if I'm configuring Konquror as a browser (Javascript), it's under KDE applications.

No (my fault, bad example), it a question for Konqueror, so it belongs in applications.
System is something not belonging to a single app, like Look&Feel,settings of IO slaves, standard paths, localisation settings.

Lets say if it is visible as an application, it belongs in applications (kicker for example is not visible as an application, its name is not important for users, it doesn't have a menu entry or button to start)

Maybe we can find a categorisation that at least the moderators agree on.
Then we create a forum for questions where any type of question can be asked and the moderators move it into the right category.

A small amount of forums will increase the noise if you are only interested in a certain area, something that will keep people with few time but large knowledge (like core developers) from reading the postings.

Revised suggestion:
- KDE applications
questions about application, maybe splitted into configuration and general usage questions.

- KDE system
questions about settings not bound to a specific app (from the users point of view, so proxy questions will like appear Konqueror related)
Examples: autostarting applications, mous behaviour, style settings, wallpaper, screensavers, kicker applets

Cheers,
_


Cheers,
_

I'd like to throw my 2cents towards the idea of slimming down the choices of boards/sections that are available.

I'm sure you can already guess what I'm going to say.
but I followed your link to the Gnome board & guess what... they have 3 major catergories:
--Gnome Help
--Discussion
--Gnome Art
Then their applications brreakdowns are under these three main categories.
This is pretty similar to my suggestion above (Mar:
->Discussion
->Tech Help
->Feedback
->maybe Look & Add On
I swear I have never visited the Gnome board before!

I'll stick with this as a suggestion. I really really really think this is a better way.

Your current suggestion is not much different from the existing except that a number of redundant forums have been removed. It continues the same problems in that users don't know where to post & browsers have to monitor a large number of forums to keep up.
Another example: I have a question relating to installing flashplayer plugin for Konqueror. Does it go in 'Administration' as it is an 'install' problem, 'Internet' (since it is Konqueror) or maybe the poster will consider flashplayer a 'Multimedia' application. but why should I have to choose? What I really want is HELP: (subject: Flashplayer & Konqueror).
This is a real example, the potential poster is me, when I can figure out exactly where it should go I will post it here. In the meantime, it is posted under 'Help' at Linux Format board.
..and once again, why is there a forum called 'administration'? Nobody outside of the KDE regular community can relate to that term in this meaning. Why is 'hardware' related questions under administration?.

If i might suggest a board just for kopete. I think that at least half the posts we recieve here are to do with kopete problems. We also have at least one kopete developer who is quite frequent here, and the kopete website links to the Internet Board.