Does OpenSCAD deserve a modern Forum platform?

> Finding an acceptable replacement for the current forum software is an
> open issue.

Maybe not HyperKitty. It is plain text only: no rich text, markdown, or embedded images.
https://gitlab.com/mailman/hyperkitty/-/issues/225

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First of all, thanks for discussing this topic with me again :-). I´ve
checked the link to December´s thread that doug.moen pointed out and found
it very interesting. Please, let me comment here your contributions.

*doug.moen*

"About 2/3 of the participants use the mailing list, not the forum."

I´m sorry, but I disagree. I think this fact is does not fully validate that
the current Forum manager is the preferred option for 2/3 of the users. This
simply says that 2/3 of the users prefer one of the two alternatives for
such current (old) manager software. Perhaps if they tested a newer
alternative would change their preferences, don´t you think?

"Discourse can't meet this requirement, because the data model is wrong.
Every forum post needs to have a subject line, and conversations need to be
threaded based on the subject line. High quality mailing list integration
with Discourse is not possible."

If I understood you well, I would not say that the data model is wrong. In
all Forums I´ve used you need a subject topic and the replies must follow
that subject. I really do not understand why a mailing list is necessary.
Almost any modern Forum software also should provide digests to be aware
about what topics are trendy, and also can send you emails about new
messages in the threads you´ve participated.

*acwest*

"I have been on mailing lists that were entirely killed by migration to
forums that didn't support the mailing list format well"

This may be a good reason, but I don´t know why this should also apply here.
Past events do not guarantee future events. :-) I think that OpenSCAD is a
good free tool that is very attractive for makers, engineers and DIY people.

I want to remark here some extracts that best reflect my opinion from the
December thread about this topic

*tp3* and *MichaelAtOz* say that "Nabble might be dying any time. This was
announced some time ago, but did luckily not happen yet.". The former also
evidences that Discourse would be a good alternative...

Furthermore, I totally agree with *xgarb*. He exposed what I think is
another key motivation to change Forum manager software since I experienced
exactly the same frustration upon subscribing myself to this mailing list:

"My experience of joining this forum went something like this:
1) Read notice about joining three times, 2) Sign up to forum, 3) Confirm,
4) Sign up to Mail list
5) Confirm, 6) Read notice about joining again, 7) Send manual request, 8)
Go to bed
9) Wake up to 10 emails I'm not interested in, 10) See accepted message, 11)
Work, 12) Get more emails
13) Write my question, 14) See my question showing but with just urls for
the images
Discourse would be:
1) Create account or use social login, 2) Confirm, 3) Write question
(including pasting screen captures directly)"

From the point of view of a potential OpenSCAD new user (which are necessary
to maintain a good health community), such an old Forum manager would make
him/her consider whether to join or not to join this forum since it gives
the impression that it may be discontinued very soon... I´m afraid that this
was exactly what I thought a few weeks ago when I joined. Fortunately, upon
a couple of posts I´ve realized that I was quite wrong and that this
community is very active and responsive (thanks all!).

Thanks again and sorry for the long post!



--
Sent from: http://forum.openscad.org/

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OpenSCAD mailing list
[hidden email]
http://lists.openscad.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss_lists.openscad.org

First of all, thanks for discussing this topic with me again :-). I´ve
checked the link to December´s thread that doug.moen pointed out and found
it very interesting. Please, let me comment here your contributions.

*doug.moen*

"About 2/3 of the participants use the mailing list, not the forum."

I´m sorry, but I disagree. I think this fact is does not fully validate that
the current Forum manager is the preferred option for 2/3 of the users. This
simply says that 2/3 of the users prefer one of the two alternatives for
such current (old) manager software. Perhaps if they tested a newer
alternative would change their preferences, don´t you think?

"Discourse can't meet this requirement, because the data model is wrong.
Every forum post needs to have a subject line, and conversations need to be
threaded based on the subject line. High quality mailing list integration
with Discourse is not possible."

If I understood you well, I would not say that the data model is wrong. In
all Forums I´ve used you need a subject topic and the replies must follow
that subject. I really do not understand why a mailing list is necessary.
Almost any modern Forum software also should provide digests to be aware
about what topics are trendy, and also can send you emails about new
messages in the threads you´ve participated.

*acwest*

"I have been on mailing lists that were entirely killed by migration to
forums that didn't support the mailing list format well"

This may be a good reason, but I don´t know why this should also apply here.
Past events do not guarantee future events. :-) I think that OpenSCAD is a
good free tool that is very attractive for makers, engineers and DIY people.

I want to remark here some extracts that best reflect my opinion from the
December thread about this topic

*tp3* and *MichaelAtOz* say that "Nabble might be dying any time. This was
announced some time ago, but did luckily not happen yet.". The former also
evidences that Discourse would be a good alternative...

Furthermore, I totally agree with *xgarb*. He exposed what I think is
another key motivation to change Forum manager software since I experienced
exactly the same frustration upon subscribing myself to this mailing list:

"My experience of joining this forum went something like this:
1) Read notice about joining three times, 2) Sign up to forum, 3) Confirm,
4) Sign up to Mail list
5) Confirm, 6) Read notice about joining again, 7) Send manual request, 8)
Go to bed
9) Wake up to 10 emails I'm not interested in, 10) See accepted message, 11)
Work, 12) Get more emails
13) Write my question, 14) See my question showing but with just urls for
the images
Discourse would be:
1) Create account or use social login, 2) Confirm, 3) Write question
(including pasting screen captures directly)"

From the point of view of a potential OpenSCAD new user (which are necessary
to maintain a good health community), such an old Forum manager would make
him/her consider whether to join or not to join this forum since it gives
the impression that it may be discontinued very soon... I´m afraid that this
was exactly what I thought a few weeks ago when I joined. Fortunately, upon
a couple of posts I´ve realized that I was quite wrong and that this
community is very active and responsive (thanks all!).

Thanks again and sorry for the long post!



--
Sent from: http://forum.openscad.org/

_______________________________________________
OpenSCAD mailing list
[hidden email]
http://lists.openscad.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss_lists.openscad.org

I know I would be gone if the mailing list wasn't good enough. Forums require you to choose to go to the forum, choose a top to read, etc. A miasling list, you just read messages as they come in. I have way too many things I am following to put that much attention into any one thing

On Fri, Jan 22, 2021 at 6:21 PM Vigardo <[hidden email]> wrote:

First of all, thanks for discussing this topic with me again :-). I´ve
checked the link to December´s thread that doug.moen pointed out and found
it very interesting. Please, let me comment here your contributions.

*doug.moen*

"About 2/3 of the participants use the mailing list, not the forum."

I´m sorry, but I disagree. I think this fact is does not fully validate that
the current Forum manager is the preferred option for 2/3 of the users. This
simply says that 2/3 of the users prefer one of the two alternatives for
such current (old) manager software. Perhaps if they tested a newer
alternative would change their preferences, don´t you think?

"Discourse can't meet this requirement, because the data model is wrong.
Every forum post needs to have a subject line, and conversations need to be
threaded based on the subject line. High quality mailing list integration
with Discourse is not possible."

If I understood you well, I would not say that the data model is wrong. In
all Forums I´ve used you need a subject topic and the replies must follow
that subject. I really do not understand why a mailing list is necessary.
Almost any modern Forum software also should provide digests to be aware
about what topics are trendy, and also can send you emails about new
messages in the threads you´ve participated.

*acwest*

"I have been on mailing lists that were entirely killed by migration to
forums that didn't support the mailing list format well"

This may be a good reason, but I don´t know why this should also apply here.
Past events do not guarantee future events. :-) I think that OpenSCAD is a
good free tool that is very attractive for makers, engineers and DIY people.

I want to remark here some extracts that best reflect my opinion from the
December thread about this topic

*tp3* and *MichaelAtOz* say that "Nabble might be dying any time. This was
announced some time ago, but did luckily not happen yet.". The former also
evidences that Discourse would be a good alternative...

Furthermore, I totally agree with *xgarb*. He exposed what I think is
another key motivation to change Forum manager software since I experienced
exactly the same frustration upon subscribing myself to this mailing list:

"My experience of joining this forum went something like this:
1) Read notice about joining three times, 2) Sign up to forum, 3) Confirm,
4) Sign up to Mail list
5) Confirm, 6) Read notice about joining again, 7) Send manual request, 8)
Go to bed
9) Wake up to 10 emails I'm not interested in, 10) See accepted message, 11)
Work, 12) Get more emails
13) Write my question, 14) See my question showing but with just urls for
the images
Discourse would be:
1) Create account or use social login, 2) Confirm, 3) Write question
(including pasting screen captures directly)"

From the point of view of a potential OpenSCAD new user (which are necessary
to maintain a good health community), such an old Forum manager would make
him/her consider whether to join or not to join this forum since it gives
the impression that it may be discontinued very soon... I´m afraid that this
was exactly what I thought a few weeks ago when I joined. Fortunately, upon
a couple of posts I´ve realized that I was quite wrong and that this
community is very active and responsive (thanks all!).

Thanks again and sorry for the long post!



--
Sent from: http://forum.openscad.org/

_______________________________________________
OpenSCAD mailing list
[hidden email]
http://lists.openscad.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss_lists.openscad.org

_______________________________________________
OpenSCAD mailing list
[hidden email]
http://lists.openscad.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss_lists.openscad.org