Wiki Restructuring Needed?

moullas · 2006-05-28, 17:32

Hi there..
First of all, congrats to the latest changes on the Wiki mainpage...
Moving on to my niggles ...

I created a wiki account and was trying to get a hand on the structure of the wiki, and i realised that there is somewhat confusion on the pages...

For example, there are 2 plugins pages
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/Med...lSetup_Plugins
and
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/MediaPortalPlugins

Also, there are are 2 Tips and Tricks pages, one available from the Wiki main page -> Tips and Tricks and one available on the Mediaportal Manual page..

So, i wanted to update a plugin, where do i start? On the 2nd page (which seems more comprehensive) or the first (which looks more integrated to the Manual, and imo is where things should be)

I guess what i'm trying to say, is that we need a master plan with all pages, a correct structure and some sort of progress till everything is completed, and what is missing.

So, moving on to the recommendations:

1) Make a master plan for the Wiki, so that people that write documentation are aware of priorities of documents needed first, there are no confusion where to write, no duplicates etc...

2) Things should start to be consolidated, in the following order:
a) From the old Wiki (move all relevant stuff to the new wiki, and then totally remove the old). This is because there is still useful information there, but people are confused where to look for information.
b) Move stuff from tips and tricks under their respective plugin on configuration page under the main manual.
c) Get things from the forum that could be entered in the Wiki

3) Make a Wiki related forum under development, for all Wiki people and related questions, recommendations, guidelines etc

4) Tell us who is currently responsible for the wiki, so we can have a talk with him

I think this will make things less confusing, since if a user has a problem let's say with MyTV, he'll go to the MyTV plugin in the wiki. There, if there are tips and tricks for that specific thing, then the user will read only the relevant thing, whereas now there is serious sifting needed to find the thing relevant to the problem.

I'm willing to make a Visio drawing to work on the structure, so that organising can become easier. Or if there is already such a document, share it so that we can work better !

What do you think people?

surfermc · 2006-05-28, 17:59

I have to agree that the wiki needs a route plan. The trouble is it also needs contributions from everybody. A wiki by it's very nature tends to evolve because it is create by interested users, who want to add a specific bit of information. It does howver need an editor to trim and prune it.

There is a lot of useful infomation and tips within the forums that need to be transfered or atleast linked to the wiki.

infinityloop seems to be doing a lot of work on the wiki at the moment and I'm sure he would welcome any support and suggestions.

moullas · 2006-05-28, 18:49

The problem with only one man having the full picture in a community project, is that the rest of the people can't fully contribute..

I can start making arbitrary pages, only to find that my work was already done by somebody else somewhere else, or that someone more specialised than me could do something better at some portions of the docs....

MASTER PLAN!

infinityloop · 2006-06-09, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by moullas

For example, there are 2 plugins pages
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/Med...lSetup_Plugins
and
http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/MediaPortalPlugins

http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/Med...lSetup_Plugins
is for all plugins that are included in the MediaPortal release versions (svn). this is part of the manual-pages

http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/MediaPortalPlugins
is part of the extensions section and is there for 3rd party plugins that are not included in svn.
atm there are plugins listed that are in svn, thats wrong.
i will change that soon.

so evreyone who writes a plugin can add it to the MediaPortalPlugins page with the template that is available.

Quote:

Originally Posted by moullas

Also, there are are 2 Tips and Tricks pages, one available from the Wiki main page -> Tips and Tricks and one available on the Mediaportal Manual page..

correct, they will be merged to get them on one page.

Quote:

Originally Posted by moullas

4) Tell us who is currently responsible for the wiki, so we can have a talk with him

well thats me then

many pages/links have allready been prepared, so it is quite easy for everyone to contribute. grab a page that has not been created yet and start to write

moullas · 2006-06-10, 11:42

hi there infinityloop

Ok, i think you should ask the powers that be if a Wiki forum can be made, for discussing the documentation effort, and specific issues about it.

From then on, maybe the Wiki writers can be coordinated by you correctly, so that pages end up in their correct places

how about it?

infinityloop · 2006-06-10, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by moullas

Ok, i think you should ask the powers that be if a Wiki forum can be made, for discussing the documentation effort, and specific issues about it.

well that would be possible, but such things should be discussed in IRC. provides results much quicker.

moullas · 2006-06-14, 22:08

Agreed, IRC provides much faster responses.. but unfortunately time differences and real life don't leave much time for that

A forum would provide a place where people can see the decisions, the discussions and be able to contribute world-wide... as is the nature of open source thingys

The world cup also interferes with spare time right now, as here in my country everyone stays glued on their tv's from 4pm to 12 (gg Germany tonight btw)

so, i stay by my decision about suggesting a new sub forum for the Wiki!

2006-05-28, 17:32	#1 (permalink)
moullas Portal Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 100 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	Wiki Restructuring Needed? Hi there.. First of all, congrats to the latest changes on the Wiki mainpage... Moving on to my niggles ... I created a wiki account and was trying to get a hand on the structure of the wiki, and i realised that there is somewhat confusion on the pages... For example, there are 2 plugins pages http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/Med...lSetup_Plugins and http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/MediaPortalPlugins Also, there are are 2 Tips and Tricks pages, one available from the Wiki main page -> Tips and Tricks and one available on the Mediaportal Manual page.. So, i wanted to update a plugin, where do i start? On the 2nd page (which seems more comprehensive) or the first (which looks more integrated to the Manual, and imo is where things should be) I guess what i'm trying to say, is that we need a master plan with all pages, a correct structure and some sort of progress till everything is completed, and what is missing. So, moving on to the recommendations: 1) Make a master plan for the Wiki, so that people that write documentation are aware of priorities of documents needed first, there are no confusion where to write, no duplicates etc... 2) Things should start to be consolidated, in the following order: a) From the old Wiki (move all relevant stuff to the new wiki, and then totally remove the old). This is because there is still useful information there, but people are confused where to look for information. b) Move stuff from tips and tricks under their respective plugin on configuration page under the main manual. c) Get things from the forum that could be entered in the Wiki 3) Make a Wiki related forum under development, for all Wiki people and related questions, recommendations, guidelines etc 4) Tell us who is currently responsible for the wiki, so we can have a talk with him I think this will make things less confusing, since if a user has a problem let's say with MyTV, he'll go to the MyTV plugin in the wiki. There, if there are tips and tricks for that specific thing, then the user will read only the relevant thing, whereas now there is serious sifting needed to find the thing relevant to the problem. I'm willing to make a Visio drawing to work on the structure, so that organising can become easier. Or if there is already such a document, share it so that we can work better ! What do you think people?

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2006-05-28, 17:59	#2 (permalink)
surfermc Portal Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dorset Posts: 258 Thanks: 13 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts Country: My System	I have to agree that the wiki needs a route plan. The trouble is it also needs contributions from everybody. A wiki by it's very nature tends to evolve because it is create by interested users, who want to add a specific bit of information. It does howver need an editor to trim and prune it. There is a lot of useful infomation and tips within the forums that need to be transfered or atleast linked to the wiki. infinityloop seems to be doing a lot of work on the wiki at the moment and I'm sure he would welcome any support and suggestions.

2006-05-28, 18:49	#3 (permalink)
moullas Portal Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 100 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	The problem with only one man having the full picture in a community project, is that the rest of the people can't fully contribute.. I can start making arbitrary pages, only to find that my work was already done by somebody else somewhere else, or that someone more specialised than me could do something better at some portions of the docs.... MASTER PLAN!

2006-06-10, 11:42	#5 (permalink)
moullas Portal Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 100 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	hi there infinityloop Ok, i think you should ask the powers that be if a Wiki forum can be made, for discussing the documentation effort, and specific issues about it. From then on, maybe the Wiki writers can be coordinated by you correctly, so that pages end up in their correct places how about it?

2006-06-14, 22:08	#7 (permalink)
moullas Portal Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 100 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	Agreed, IRC provides much faster responses.. but unfortunately time differences and real life don't leave much time for that A forum would provide a place where people can see the decisions, the discussions and be able to contribute world-wide... as is the nature of open source thingys The world cup also interferes with spare time right now, as here in my country everyone stays glued on their tv's from 4pm to 12 (gg Germany tonight btw) so, i stay by my decision about suggesting a new sub forum for the Wiki!