[SAC] [OSGeo] #1055: OSGeo Service Provider Directory Broken

[Basques, Bob (CI-StPaul)]

Frank,

We do the same for GeoMoose with regard to the linking.  I also immediately want to take this further, and discovered the limitation with the current system with regard to making architecture changes.

My interest is in making it more accessible to new project service providers by replicating these types of links out into the projects themselves, complete with access to the forms for new registrations, I would also like to add in some optional extended attributes for the providers. Possibly even add in some methof for valididation of Emails by sending out periodic reminders, etc.

The separation aspect really relates to me having the maintenance duties separated from everything else.  As far as the Styling, that should be dependent on the particular client, the linking to the new service from OSGEO would use the existing style, for example, while also allow projects the option of using their respective styles.

Another thought that occurred to me after sending the initial email was the idea that being separated, the service provider directory could become a project of sorts unto itself, similarly to the LiveDVD.  It could be inserted into the LiveDVD for example at each stamping, dependent on some FORM checkbox.  There's not really a method in the current OSGeo domain for anyone to provide feedback or introduce ideas about how things might be improved, other than this list (that I know of).

Some of these thoughts are longer term, but you get the idea about why I think the separation aspect might be the thing to implement first.

Bobb



bobb

>>  -----Original Message-----
>>  From: fwarmerdam at gmail.com [mailto:fwarmerdam at gmail.com] On
>>  Behalf Of Frank Warmerdam
>>  Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2013 6:14 PM
>>  To: Basques, Bob (CI-StPaul)
>>  Cc: System Administration Committee Discussion/OSGeo
>>  Subject: Re: [SAC] [OSGeo] #1055: OSGeo Service Provider
>>  Directory Broken
>>  
>>  On Tue, Jan 8, 2013 at 3:01 PM, Basques, Bob (CI-StPaul)
>>  <bob.basques at ci.stpaul.mn.us> wrote:
>>  > Hi all,
>>  >
>>  > I'm just now reading this, (or figuring out what was being
>>  talked about).
>>  >
>>  > I would like to volunteer to build this out into something
>>  separate from the Drupal infrastructure, as I think it's better
>>  off that way over the long run.
>>  >
>>  > I would like to set up a Postgres database instead and set up a
>>  simpler calling structure for displaying the Service Provider
>>  information.
>>  >
>>  > I've been wondering for a while now how to set this up as a
>>  service that could feed other sites.  The intent being to
>>  propagate the information where it is needed.  It would be nice
>>  for instance for each project to be able to include a few links
>>  related to their project about service providers that are
>>  available for their product(s).
>>  >
>>  > All I need to get started would be a dump of the existing data
>>  and I'll set something up for review.
>>  
>>  Bobb,
>>  
>>  Note that currently projects can already reference the Service
>>  Provider Directory.  For instance GDAL links to the following
>>  which gives GDAL related service providers:
>>  
>>  http://www.osgeo.org/search_profile?SET=1&MUL_TECH[0]=00013
>>  
>>  On the one hand, separating this from Drupal would make upgrading
>>  Drupal easier.  On the other hand, at the time it was built it
>>  was perceived as helpful to build it into Drupal so it appears to
>>  be a natural similarly styled part of the web site, and tied into
>>  the existing LDAP infrastructure.  I'm a bit dubious on the value
>>  of setting it up as a separate service.
>>  
>>  Best regards,
>>  --
>>  ---------------------------------------+-------------------------
>>  -------
>>  ---------------------------------------+------
>>  I set the clouds in motion - turn up   | Frank Warmerdam,
>>  warmerdam at pobox.com
>>  light and sound - activate the windows |
>>  http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
>>  and watch the world go round - Rush    | Geospatial Software
>>  Developer