[Web Comm] Fwd: About project categories

[Mateusz Loskot]

Frank Warmerdam wrote:
> Jo Walsh wrote:
>> Mateusz sent this great proposal for reorganising the 'categories' on
>> the website in order to explain more to new users... he's not on this
>> list so it got bounced. I'd like to act on this, but i'm not sure if
>> a/ i have the right project role or b/ if it's something only CN can do
>>
>> -------- Original message --------
>> Subject: About project categories
>> Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 21:25:04 +0200
>> From: Mateusz Loskot <mateusz at loskot.net>
>> To: dev at webcommittee.osgeo.org
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm not a member of the WebCom but I hope you don't mind
>> I'll share some ideas here.
>>
>> I'd like to give my proposal of reorganization of project categories.
>> Currently, OSGeo project categories do not tell much about a type of
>> project, but about state (approved, in incubator, etc.).
> 
> Jo / Mateusz,
> 
> I think this is something Auke would do if we wanted to change the
> categories.  I believe I also have a sufficient access level, but I'm
> leery to fiddle with such things.


Frank,

OK.


>> IMHO, good example of categories is avaiable on the Tigris.org
>> http://www.tigris.org/servlets/ProjectList
>>
>> Those categories are easy for users to navigate and find projects they
>> are interested in.
>>
>> My proposal includes 2-3 or more branches of categories:
>>
>> |- projects
>>    |- state
>>       |- in incubator
>>       |- approved
>>    |- software
>>       |- libraries
>>       |- frameworks
>>       |- web mapping
>>       |- desktop
>>       |- spatial databases
>>       |- utils
>>       |- ???
> 
> I think it is sufficient to have a "software projects" category in so far
> as the CN groupings work.


Sure.


> I do think we need a "roadmap" web page that
> provides some useful categorization and indicates information such as
> the state, license, and language (in addition to the core breakdown by
> role).


Good idea. A kind of website RCF's to discuss in the Community.


>> |- foundation
>>    |- committees
>>    |- local chapters
>>       |- countries
>>       |- ???
> 
> Sounds good.


Good.


>> |- infrastructure
>>    |- mail
>>    |- website
>>    |- ???
> 
> Well, I think one "infrastructure" category for all these.


Sure, simplier.


>> Also, it could be nice to be able to assign project to more than one
>> category. For example, library XYZ could be assigned to
>> - projects - software - libraries
>> and
>> - projects - state - in incubator
>>
>> IMHO, the 'projects' branch is most important for common users and
>> developers, so they will be able to find a project walking down the
>> categories tree.
> 
> IMHO, we shouldn't be putting to much effort into the CN platform groups
> categorization as I don't think most people new to the site are going to
> make use of it.  Instead I think just appropriate web navigation pages
> is the key to finding things.  But the breakdown is quite good.


Good idea.
Simple but well-designed categories will make the site navigation easy.


Best regards
-- 
Mateusz Loskot
http://mateusz.loskot.net