/srv/irclogs.ubuntu.com/2011/02/12/#ubuntu-manual.txt

=== daker_ is now known as daker
c7phello all19:51
godbykHey, c7p.19:52
ChrisWoollardEvening19:52
sipherdeehi everyone!19:55
ChrisWoollardHello19:58
godbyk#startmeeting20:00
MootBotMeeting started at 14:00. The chair is godbyk.20:00
MootBotCommands Available: [TOPIC], [IDEA], [ACTION], [AGREED], [LINK], [VOTE]20:00
godbykYay, I remembered how that worked! :)20:00
c7pnice, i guess here is the agenda http://pad.ubuntu-uk.org/jM8mKDIKEB20:01
godbyk[TOPIC] Find a new project leader20:01
MootBotNew Topic:  Find a new project leader20:01
* daker is here20:01
godbykHey, ChrisWoollard.. still around?20:02
ChrisWoollardYes20:02
godbykAh, there you are.20:02
ChrisWoollard just poped downstairs for some food20:02
godbykWas popey involved?20:02
godbyk(Sorry, couldn't resist.)20:02
godbykBack on topic now.20:03
ChrisWoollard:)20:03
godbykSo Ben's resigned as the project lead on account of being busy with other things and having a life and all.20:03
godbykThat left us somewhat rudderless and we need to sort out the future of this project.20:04
ChrisWoollardIt has been noticed.20:04
godbykIf we think the project should continue, we'll need to work on finding a new project lead (or at least a release manager for each edition).20:04
godbyk(As well as finding folks to do all the other work that's involved in publishing a manual, of course.)20:05
godbykI guess the first question we need to answer is: Do we think the project should continue or should we let it die?20:05
ChrisWoollardDo we have a Jobe spec?20:05
godbykChrisWoollard: There's a short one here: http://typewith.me/dV3ZKFh1fp20:06
godbykBut nothing too specific.20:06
c7pwe want the project to continue, that's why we are here, right ?20:06
UndiFineDo/20:06
ChrisWoollardI want it to continue20:07
thorwilreally? i'm here to see it die! muhahaha!20:07
c7pyap, ok is there anyone here who wants to lead ?20:07
c7plol20:07
dakernot me :)20:08
ChrisWoollardAre there any volunteers?20:08
godbykThere are a couple ways we can go about this:20:08
godbyk1. Find a project lead who helps steer the overall project (across multiple releases), and20:09
godbyk2. Find an editor in chief for each release cycle who manages that particular edition of the manual.20:09
godbykThese two roles could be filled by the same person or filled by multiple people.20:09
sipherdeei am reading the mailing list since some months but i am unable to vote on who could take the lead.20:09
c7psipherdee: there is nobody as candidate until now so don't worry20:10
thorwilgodbyk: your are the defacto nexus of this project and as such the most natural candidate to now lead officially. yeah, i know, i'm mean ;)20:10
godbykthorwil: Oh, you're evil!20:11
c7pi agree20:11
godbykUnfortunately, I'm afraid I don't have the time to take on that responsibility right now.20:11
ChrisWoollardThe same for me. My time for this project is somewhat eratic.20:12
godbykI think we should determine the structure of the role(s) we need to fill (either a single project leader or a project leader and an editor-in-chief).20:12
c7pmaybe we need other model of team management until we find a project leader20:12
godbykThen we can look for volunteers on the mailing list and elsewhere in the community.20:12
ChrisWoollardSo, potentially look outside of the project?20:13
c7phere we go http://typewith.me/GY2L5yJCUF20:14
ChrisWoollardgodbyk, can you right what we need and I can post it to the planet20:14
ChrisWoollard+ others20:14
godbykI can jot some notes in there, yeah.20:14
c7pChrisWoollard: for the editors i think it's ok but for the project leader i'm not so sure20:15
ChrisWoollardc7p: You don't think we should go outside of the project?20:16
c7pChrisWoollard: for new members of course20:16
c7pand maybe for leader but independents if he/she has worked on other project20:18
thorwilwhat about joining/building a bridge to the documentation team, to stay within my evil ways?20:18
godbykthorwil: I don't think anyone's against the notion, but we'd need some specific proposals/ideas on how to do that.20:19
ChrisWoollardThat isn't such a bad idea.20:19
godbykthorwil: Otherwise, we just end up talking a lot and nothing happens.20:19
c7pyes20:20
ChrisWoollardWhere as at the moment we haven't really talked or done anything20:20
ChrisWoollard:)20:20
godbykThe documentation team is being hit pretty hard this cycle, too, as they're not able to just repackage GNOME's upstream documentation.20:20
godbykEveryone has to write new documentation for Unity.20:20
thorwilgodbyk: i'm great at *not* talking a lot, but bad at diplomacy :)20:20
jasonoHello everyone. AM I late for the meeting?20:20
godbykjasono: A bit, but it's still going on, and you haven't missed much yet.20:21
ChrisWoollardjasono: a little20:21
jasonoOh. :/20:21
ChrisWoollardnot much20:21
godbykc7p: Did you have any specific ideas in mind for alternative team management models?20:22
c7pi have some ideas20:23
godbykc7p: Do tell!20:23
c7p:p20:23
ChrisWoollardplease share20:23
c7pwhat a leader does ? he set roles20:23
c7pwe should set roles by ourselves since there is none20:24
c7pthe problem that we have regards writing content20:24
c7pas far as i remmber ben was checking the text, he was highlighting changes and aditions that should be done20:25
c7pone member or maybe more should be in charge of this, tracking changes of future releases20:25
c7pthen ben was writing at his blog and at omgubuntu about what our team does and what it needs20:26
godbykIn my mind, the editor-in-chief is basically someone who wrangles all the chapter authors and editors and harasses them until they've turned in their work.20:26
godbykThe EiC makes sure we hit our deadlines and basically drives the release.20:27
godbykThe project leader, in contrast, is really there just for more big-picture things.. longer-term thinking.  I think this role isn't nearly so important (at least as embodied by a single individual) as the EiC.20:27
godbykThe responsibilities of the project leader could be split up and assigned to multiple individuals easily enough.20:28
godbykBut I think that we really need an editor-in-chief for each edition.  Someone who takes responsibility for that edition.20:28
ChrisWoollardCommunication could be done by whoever really20:28
c7pgodbyk: +1 (leader could be split up and assigned to multiple individuals easily enough.)20:29
godbykMarketing, recruiting, cheerleading, etc., can and should be done by multiple people.20:29
thorwilmake the EiC an honor you have to apply for and who knows ...?20:29
ChrisWoollardIt might help if they can post to the planet. But that could be proxied through other people too.20:29
godbykMy primary concern, then, is finding a good EiC.20:29
godbykThe EiC role could be held be a different person each release cycle, or by one person for multiple release cycles (if they're good at it and willing to stay on).20:30
ChrisWoollardPersonally, both roles share me. Oh the Responsibly20:31
ChrisWoollards/share/scare20:31
godbykThe EiC needs to be dedicated and willing to stick around at least for the duration of that release cycle.20:31
c7pcould EiC role be taken by two people ?20:32
godbykThe EiC role could be shared by a couple people as long as they work closely together.  I don't think it ought to be distributed across more people than that, though, because then the responsibility level drops too much and people are willing to shrug it off too easily.20:32
c7pi agree on that two are enough20:33
ChrisWoollardYou could delegate responsibiliy to various chapters also.20:33
godbykChrisWoollard: Each chapter would have its own author(s) and an editor, perhaps.20:33
ChrisWoollardthat would work20:34
godbykBut I really want to have one (or two at most) people who have responsibility for the entire manual.20:34
ChrisWoollardAgreed20:34
godbykTo ensure it gets published on time, that it's of the highest quality, etc.20:34
ChrisWoollardSo... Should we move on and work on these roles later?20:35
godbykIt's the EiC's job to manage the chapter authors/editors.20:35
godbykSure.20:36
c7pwhat's next ?20:36
godbyk[TOPIC] Quickshot20:36
MootBotNew Topic:  Quickshot20:36
godbykAny Quickshot developers around?20:36
ChrisWoollardor anybody that knows anything about it?20:36
godbykI saw jenkins in here earlier, but then he went offline.20:37
godbykI haven't seen flan in quite a while.20:38
ChrisWoollardPersonally i think quickshot is a big problem20:38
godbykOkay, so we need to find out the status of Quickshot: Is is ready for us to use on the Maverick edition?20:38
ChrisWoollardNobody seems to know anything about it20:38
godbykAnd we need to get some instructions written up on how to install and use it.20:38
godbykI know that flan and jenkins have both been really busy the past few months.20:39
godbykSo we may need to scare up some more developers to help out.20:39
ChrisWoollardAs far as i know the screenshots are all that we really need for the maverick manual20:39
godbykOkay, I'll contact flan and jenkins to get a status report and see if they can write up some instructions for us.20:40
godbykI'll also see if they need more developers to help them out.20:40
godbyk[ACTION] godbyk will contact Quickshot developers to get a status report, to get instructions for installation/use, and to see if they need more developers20:41
MootBotACTION received:  godbyk will contact Quickshot developers to get a status report, to get instructions for installation/use, and to see if they need more developers20:41
godbyk[TOPIC] Natty edition20:41
MootBotNew Topic:  Natty edition20:41
ChrisWoollardWhat do we want to do?20:41
ChrisWoollard1.20:42
ChrisWoollardA full Manaul20:42
godbykFor the Natty edition, we need to decide whther to publish a full manual or just release some sort of Unity supplemental.20:42
ChrisWoollard2. A New featues / changes guide20:42
ChrisWoollard3. Nothing (Wait to the next LTS).20:42
ChrisWoollard4. ?20:42
c7punity is a headache fot the editions to come :/20:42
ChrisWoollardI tried the Alpha 1 and hated it. It never worked and drove me round the bend.20:43
godbykCan you give me an idea of some things that would be in the new features / changes guide?20:43
ChrisWoollardDoes anybody have views on what to do?20:43
godbykIdeally, I think our manual should cover the default installation/settings of Ubuntu.20:44
ChrisWoollardI would say for Natty for example. Unity20:44
ChrisWoollardSo an Installation Chapter20:44
godbykSo if Unity is the default desktop environment (or whatever), then we should cover that in the manual.20:44
c7pno unity isn't the default20:44
godbykIt isn't theh default?20:45
ChrisWoollardhttp://www.ubuntu.com/testing/natty/alpha220:45
MootBotLINK received:  http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/natty/alpha220:45
godbyk(I'm behind the times on Natty.)20:45
ChrisWoollardLooks like20:45
ChrisWoollardLibreOffice20:45
godbykFrom ChrisWoollard's link: "Ubuntu Desktop will run Unity by default..."20:46
ChrisWoollardI do wonder if that is set in stone.20:46
c7pif the hardware supports 3d or 2d it is default, if the hardware doesn't support video accelartion gnome 2.3 is default20:47
ChrisWoollardI wonder if i depends on how far the development of it gets20:47
ChrisWoollardif it is stable enough20:47
godbykGiven that the GNOME desktop (panels) are the fallback when the hardware doesn't support Unity, will we need to cover both Unity and GNOME (panels)?20:47
ChrisWoollardI would say yes.20:47
godbykWell, that'll increase the size of the manual a bit. :)20:47
ChrisWoollardIsn't there also a 2d unity in developement?20:48
dakerif 3D is supported you will be able to run Unity, if not you will be able to run Unity-2D20:48
godbykMy opinion is that I should be able to hand a copy of our manual and an installation CD to someone and they should be able to install and start using Ubuntu.20:48
godbykSo if Unity and GNOME environments are both included on the CD, we should cover them in the manual.20:49
ChrisWoollard+120:49
c7pthat's right20:49
godbykWe may be able to downplay the GNOME environment a bit if we don't think most people will see it, but it should at least get a mention and pointers to more info about it.20:49
thorwili'd say  a mention and pointers to more info about it should be all it gets20:50
ChrisWoollardI really depends on how likely the fallback will be20:50
ChrisWoollardI know that Ubuntu in a VM never seems to have 3d. Or at least whenever I have tried it20:51
godbykWe have plenty of GNOME material already written. So we could repackage that as a supplemental that we can point to, perhaps.20:51
dakerChrisWoollard, to run Unity in VM you need VirtualBox420:52
ChrisWoollardOh Okay, I haven't tried VB4 yet.20:52
ChrisWoollardI gave up on VB at version3 because it have performance issues whenever i used it.20:52
godbykDo we have a consensus on how to handle the Natty edition?20:53
c7ptwo chapters, one for gnome and one for unity ?20:53
ChrisWoollardMaybe we could have a vote on what to do?20:53
godbykChrisWoollard: We could.  What are the options?20:54
ChrisWoollard1.) Full 2.) New Feaures / Changes + Installation 3.) Nothing20:54
ChrisWoollard4?20:54
godbykI think (1) could be split into two options: (a) include both GNOME and Unity in one manual, or (b) include only unity and point to a supplemental fascicle for GNOME.20:55
godbykSo our options would be: 1(a), 1(b), 2, or 3.20:56
godbykDo we want to vote on those?  If so, I guess just shout out which option you prefer.20:56
thorwilconcentrate on defaults/the common case, everything outside of that risks causing confusion and is too mabitious regarding workload20:56
thorwilmabitious, cute20:57
godbykthorwil: So that's kind of a vote for 1(b) where the fascicle may not exist? :)20:57
c7p1(a) if we have enough editors till then20:57
ChrisWoollardI am worried about the number of people we having working on it.20:58
godbykChrisWoollard: I am, too.  But I think we have to have some of these decisions made before we can recruit for volunteers.  Otherwise when people show up, we won't have anything ready for them to do.20:59
ChrisWoollardI would like 1a i think20:59
c7peveryone has the right to vote, comon :P21:00
godbykLooking at the Maverick edition, I think chapter 2 ("Around the Desktop") is the one most affected by the Unity change.  And that chapter is only 15 pages long.  (And not all of those pages will have to be modified.)21:00
godbykGiven that, I'll cast my lot in with 1(a) as well.21:01
godbyk(If it were more material than that, the I'd be tempted to go with 1(b) to avoid confusing people with two different desktop environments.)21:01
ChrisWoollardOk21:02
godbyk(I think if we go with 1(a), we'll want to move the GNOME stuff to an appendix or someplace out of the way.)21:02
ChrisWoollardI agree. Appendix for Gnome would work.21:02
ChrisWoollardLast call for votes?21:02
ChrisWoollardGoing......21:03
ChrisWoollard...........Going.......21:03
c7p:D21:03
ChrisWoollard.......................................... Sold...... To the Alien in the cheap seats!....21:04
godbyk[ACTION] The Natty manual will cover both Unity and GNOME environments21:04
MootBotACTION received:  The Natty manual will cover both Unity and GNOME environments21:04
godbyk[TOPIC] Maverick edition21:04
MootBotNew Topic:  Maverick edition21:04
ChrisWoollardIt needs screenshots21:04
godbykChrisWoollard: Is that really all that needs to be done?21:05
ChrisWoollardI think most of it was written and editted.21:05
godbykOkay. I guess I had assumed we still had a bunch of editing to do, or something.21:05
ChrisWoollardObviously, it could do with checking.21:05
godbykAlways. :)21:06
ChrisWoollardI know all the big changes were done.21:06
godbykSo I guess we'll need to wait to hear back from the Quickshot folks then?21:06
ChrisWoollardYes.21:06
ChrisWoollardSo the action is to kick the Quickshoters21:06
godbykCool. I'll use that as leverage.  "You guys are holding up the Maverick edition!"21:07
c7pnice nice21:07
godbyk[TOPIC] Recruiting21:07
MootBotNew Topic:  Recruiting21:07
c7pregarding this, first we need to define the roles to be taken and the tasks that should be done21:08
ChrisWoollardWe need to complete those role specs21:08
ChrisWoollardCan we also maybe copy Maverick to a new branch to start working on Natty>21:09
ChrisWoollard?21:09
godbykChrisWoollard: We'll create a new natty branch.21:09
godbykI'll try to do that later today.21:09
godbyk(After I remember how it all works again. :-))21:09
ChrisWoollardWe can't really get people to work on stuff until that is gone21:09
ChrisWoollarddos/gone/done21:09
c7pnice, regarding natty changes have in mind this pad http://typewith.me/1rgiBqwp8U21:10
c7pfill it with whatever is missing21:10
godbyk[ACTION] godbyk to create a natty branch21:11
MootBotACTION received:  godbyk to create a natty branch21:11
ChrisWoollardOnce that is done I can try to get new people to help.21:12
godbykI think that we should try to find an EiC for the natty edition ASAP.21:12
godbykThen they can jump in and start driving that release.21:13
ChrisWoollardHow / Where?21:13
godbykWell, we should finish the job description first, probably.21:13
godbykThen we can post it to our mailing list and see if anyone there wants to step up for that role.21:13
ChrisWoollardWe should ...... never mind21:14
ChrisWoollardyou got there first21:14
godbykIf not, then we can cast a wider net: hit up the planet and OMG!, etc.21:14
godbykWhile you guys are still around, can you help out with the EiC job description?21:15
godbyk[TOPIC] Natty editor-in-chief21:15
MootBotNew Topic:  Natty editor-in-chief21:15
godbykThe job description is being worked on at http://typewith.me/GY2L5yJCUF21:15
godbyk(I hate writing job descriptions.)21:17
c7pyou guys are good in writing descriptions :p21:20
ChrisWoollardAnything else left to cover?21:21
c7pi think it's all that should be written21:23
godbykChrisWoollard: Nothing else on the agenda.21:23
godbykI think we'll try to clean up this editor in chief job description and then post it to the list.21:23
c7pguys something more21:23
godbykChrisWoollard: Do you want to handle the recruitment of the EiC?21:23
ChrisWoollardShould we formally close, but continue to sort out the jov specs21:23
godbykChrisWoollard: Works for me.21:23
godbykc7p: What else do you have?21:23
godbyk[TOPIC] Any other business21:24
MootBotNew Topic:  Any other business21:24
c7pi think we should work a bit on site these months21:24
c7pi mean to add new content21:24
godbyk"on site"21:24
c7por update the existing21:24
c7pwebsite*21:24
godbykc7p: Oh!21:24
ChrisWoollardI know there is a beta for the website21:24
godbykc7p: There is a new test site out there: http://test.ubuntu-manual.org/21:24
c7pnice21:25
godbykhumphreybc and daker were working on it before humphreybc left.21:25
godbykI'm not sure what it's status is.21:25
ChrisWoollardWhat do you want me to do for the EiC?21:25
godbykc7p: But, I agree, we do need to work on the website at some point in the not-so-distant future.21:25
godbykChrisWoollard: When we finish the description, do you want to send it to the list?21:26
c7pyes we need to have a least a nice and comprehensive "get involved" and "about us" section21:26
ChrisWoollardgodbyk: Ok, np21:27
godbykc7p: I agree.21:28
godbykc7p: Remind us when we schedule the next meeting to add that to the agenda.21:28
c7pok21:28
ChrisWoollardShould be have another meeting in a couple of weeks?21:28
godbykChrisWoollard: Probably a good idea.21:29
godbykSo we can see how our recruiting efforts went and to get a handle on the natty edition before we run out of time there.21:29
ChrisWoollardIs Saturday 20:00UTC a good time?21:29
ChrisWoollardany views?21:29
godbykIt works well for me.21:29
c7pwe may set a poll21:30
ChrisWoollardc7p: can you schedule the next meeting?21:30
ChrisWoollardwith the poll?21:30
c7pof course21:30
ChrisWoollardthanks21:30
c7pno problem21:30
godbykAny other business, anyone?21:31
ChrisWoollardCan you check the Minutes?21:31
ChrisWoollardhttp://pad.ubuntu-uk.org/jM8mKDIKEB21:31
MootBotLINK received:  http://pad.ubuntu-uk.org/jM8mKDIKEB21:31
godbykWe'll continue to work on the editor-in-chief job description at http://typewith.me/GY2L5yJCUF if anyone cares to join us.21:31
godbykChrisWoollard: Looks good to me.21:32
ChrisWoollardI'll post the minutes to the Wiki.21:32
godbyk'kay.21:32
godbyk#endmeeting21:32
MootBotMeeting finished at 15:32.21:32
c7pnice21:32
godbykChrisWoollard: Can you post the minutes to the mailing list, too?  (Along with a link to the transcript.)21:32
ChrisWoollardwhere do i find the transcript?21:34
ChrisWoollardI will post to the list.21:34
godbykChrisWoollard: http://irclogs.ubuntu.com/2011/02/12/%23ubuntu-manual.html21:36
c7palmost forgot it, me and Patrick are working on rewriting the getting started as editor/author https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B0zSycRKFmWy39ipsS-1VYw43UYdrvY1MSpY9s5Emkk/edit?authkey=CKWU8dYM&hl=en# if you guys have some time check it and let me know your opinion and if you find any typo etc21:37
godbykc7p: Sure thing.21:38
godbykLemme finish this job description first.21:38
c7pi can give anyone editor privileges if they want21:38
ChrisWoollardI'll have a look also21:39
ChrisWoollardIt looks good so far.21:39
c7pshould i add on leader and Eic description pad the description of an editor -we have written it during a previous meeting- ?21:43
godbykc7p: Sure, you can drop that in someplace. It might be helpful.21:44
c7pok21:44
godbyk(I feel like I'm starting to just dump everything on the poor EIC!)21:44
godbykOh, that's not bad.21:45
c7phaha21:46
c7pwell he may not be the only who is responsible for all these21:46
c7plist of UMP pads http://typewith.me/OzNMJ6gyKk , you don't have to bookmark all these. Just bookmark the list21:48
ChrisWoollardOooo, We now have a Chapter Editor as well.21:49
c7pwhat's the difference between author and editor ?21:50
godbykc7p: The author writes the text and the editor proofreads it (basically).21:51
godbykMy brain's going in circles now.  What am I missing in the EIC description?21:52
c7ppoor EiC21:52
godbykIf nothing obvious is missing, I'll turn it over to ChrisWoollard to tighten up the text a bit.21:52
c7p:p21:52
godbykc7p: I know!21:52
godbykI'm trying not to dump everything into one role, but there really is a lot for the EIC to do.21:53
godbykMany of those duties are shared among other roles, too, of course.21:53
c7pyou should write this cause it's very deterrent to become an EiC when you see this list !21:54
ChrisWoollardgodbyk. I will have a look at the text in a while.21:56
godbykChrisWoollard: np21:58
godbykNow I have to look through the minutes to see what I crazy stuff I agreed to do. :-)22:02
godbykOkay, I've emailed the Quickshot guys.  I'll let you know what I hear back.22:07
godbykNext up: Branch for natty.22:07
c7pEiC is release manager ?22:07
godbykc7p: Yes.22:08
c7pok thx22:09
c7pall: have a nice weekend :), bye22:10

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