[wp-docs] Wiki

[Cena]

I agree with a lot of what you've said here, Craig.  Although I can see 
how it can be useful, as it stands now there are a couple of  issues 
that I have with it. 

Editing documents. Some of this is irritation due to my own lack of 
knowledge on wiki editing (and personal (and probably irrational) 
dislike of wikis in general).  But more of it has to do with things 
like: lack of mandatory login.  Lack of standardization in how/where a 
doc is edited.  Frequently, not knowing who made the edit, unless they 
chose to 'sign' their name. (IP addresses don't tell me *who* that is.)

Suggestions for correction:  in order to edit, you have to log in.  When 
you edit, you leave a note summarizing edits.  Notes/comments should be 
dated,  'signed' (i.e., '-Cena'), and put at the bottom of the document.

You have some good thoghts about the issue of 'control'.  Who says when 
the doc is 'finished'?  When is it ready for general consumption?  On 
the WPDocs page, what's the standard of classification for the status of 
a doc (alpha/beta, etc?) 

> Certainly there should always be a way for
>people to contribute their ideas, and perhaps even their own writing, 
>
Of course!  None of us would be sitting here today reading (or writing) 
these list mails if that weren't so.
But...

>needs to go through a smaller group of people for proofing and ultimately
>for approval by the developers. 
>
Yes.  I think it's important that this get 'situated'.  Yesterday, I 
polished up an old post I'd made about downloading the CVS (which is 
also listed on the WPDocs page), and put it on my site.  Now I'm 
thinking, should I have done that?  Nobody gave me 'approval' to release 
it to the general public. I suppose this is what I'm trying to get at:  
Obviously no one can stop you (or me) if we decide to write something up 
and post it to our blogs.  However, the authors of docs on the wiki 
presumably would like to see them made available on the main WP site.  
These docs do need reviewing, editing, and approval.  How do we go about 
ensuring that the best quality (relevant, accurate, technically and 
grammatically correct) docs get those reviews, edits, and approval?  It 
seems apparent that we need some sort of 'team' structure.  Right now, 
there doesn't seem to be a need for this since there doesn't appear to 
be that many people actually writing docs or making edits.  However, 
that isn't always likely to be the case, and it seems that implementing 
some more formalized documentation process now could save lots of 
headaches later.  Again, this is one of those things (as discussed in an 
earlier exchange) where we're all waiting for Matt & Co. to make some 
statement about their wishes. (hint, hint)

>I'm concerned that "restriction" on access
>to working on documentation may be perceived by some as "elitist" or that
>the docs crew are somehow "special" or part of a "clique" or something.
>
<rant>Frankly, I think this is bullshit.  (Not you, Craig, but the 
mentality of someone likely to think this.)  I think anyone should be 
able to contribute; I don't think anyone's advocated doing differently.  
Nobody's suggested giving secret passwords and handshakes to 'the docs 
crew'.  BUT.  As stated earlier, there has to be some control over 
what's put up on the WP site and what's not.  That's purely a matter of 
QA and simple professionalism.  If someone's feelings are hurt because 
of that, then that's just too damn bad.  And all it takes to join that 
'special elite clique' is to write a doc, or contribute to the revision 
of one.  Writing is work.  Some people won't choose to do it, and that's 
fine and completely their choice.  But if I've done that work, I'm 
certainly not going to be very sympathetic to charges of elitism or 
anything else so patently ridiculous.  Should I cry and whine and call 
Matt/Mike/Alex elitists and cliquish because I'm not on the dev team?  I 
haven't contributed line one of code.  Ergo, I'm not a dev.  I just have 
very little patience with that kind of crap.  I'm a firm believer in 
meritocracy. (And no one can claim they're being denied equal 
opportunity for access to either the docs wiki or mailing list.)  Put up 
or shut up.  (Again, not directed at you, Craig.)
</rant>

Cena