Brian Braatz schrieb:

I am coming from a "ok so a non-boost person hits the page, how do we best speak to that person" point of view.

I can speak FROM the "newbie" perspective because it wasn't that long ago for me. And I can tell you that it takes an awful lot of patience and persistence to become someone who "sees what boost does" and can actually start using it in projects.

I don't think people come by accident to the boost page(and they definitely don't to the community page) and need to be convinced that they need boost. they look for a specific library/class and they've been told, "boost has that". later on they look what also is in boost. at least that is how it worked for me. so a community page(especially user comments in documentation) helps a new user to get into it. it is imho not the function of a community page to raise interest. (and I think it can't). and I think the best thing you can do to bring a new user into the community thing is to have documentation and user comments on the same page(see php). because what a user definitely does is look at the documentation when he's found the library he's looking for.

The work done on the web site an the libraries is of excellent quality. For that I applaud. But for the person coming in cold, the bigger picture is difficult to get initially.

I believe the issues I am raising can be best spoken to by:

1- Driving and encouraging more use of the Wiki 2- I would place a link to the users boost list and the wiki somewhere in the upper left of the page 3- Having a quick run down of each library also linked in the same area (this was suggested before) 4- Having a runtime environment for boost (like CGYWin does) (I have done something like this internal to our company- Dave- you may recall me showing you this at oopsla)

I believe these suggestions would help the newbie. Of course these have to be balanced with the day to day needs of the day to day people.

Brian :)

...

-----Original Message----- From: boost-users-bounces@lists.boost.org [mailto:boost-users- bounces@lists.boost.org] On Behalf Of David Abrahams Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 6:05 AM To: boost-users@lists.boost.org Subject: [Boost-users] Re: The Boost Community

"Brian Braatz" writes:

...

[Brian Braatz Writes:] Did some more peeking. Since I use outlook for everything (or the

main

...

...

page's archive searching) I was not aware of this view http://lists.boost.org/boost/2005/03/date.php

This speaks to what I was raising before. However it is not "in my face" (I never noticed this view existed on the site before today).

Maybe because the main Boost web archive was only recently changed to use new software.

...

I would like to amend my suggestion to be the following:

1- Formal link to the list on boost.org main page

There are lots of Boost mailing lists. If we drive everything we think is important up to the top level it will become even harder to use than it already is. What's wrong with www.boost.org/more/mailing_lists.htm, which is prominently linked from the main page?

...

2- Boost wiki links also a "first class citizen" link on the first page I.e. it goes from the BOTTOM of the page to the TOP- and it goes from being "Unofficial" to being one if not the FIRST thing on the list

My suggestion would be to list the left pane like so:

Boost Wiki Boost Mailing list (takes you to the lists view above)

I don't know about that; that view doesn't tell you how to post or subscribe to the list. I don't think the "Boost Mailing List" link ought to lead people down a tunnel that only gives them a view of the archive.

...

And then everything else

Addtionally- I would add putting a link to the Wiki in the mail (previously discussed) and at the top of the "archive view" link above. (responding to my own post)

Not sure about that one either. We need some criteria to decide what gets driven to the top level everywhere.

-- Dave Abrahams Boost Consulting www.boost-consulting.com

_______________________________________________ Boost-users mailing list Boost-users@lists.boost.org http://lists.boost.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/boost-users

_______________________________________________ Boost-users mailing list Boost-users@lists.boost.org http://lists.boost.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/boost-users

-- Stefan Strasser