[SLUG] Geeklog. (was Apologies To All Members)

[Ian Eade at IGM Web Design]

Some good points Al regarding the Geeklog CMS, bear with me whilst I through
my shiny spanner into the opensource works (coffee at the ready):


>> Hmm, I'm going to throw a cat among the pigeons here as I don't like the
layout of the current geeklog design.  Sorry!

Geeklog is very adaptable with regards to the formatting, granted it does
look a bit slashdot (most CMS's do) but it can be changed no end. To the
point of removing both columns and having a full page layout.



>> I was under the impression that CMS would be used to compliment the
existing website by adding certain features.  >> >> >> >> Calenders etc.
Rather than turning the Slug site into yet another Slashdot style news site.
This style of site is just >> the sort of thing that makes me pass swiftly
on to something more interesting and less eye watering! ;)  To me it's just
a >> collection of little links.

I was under the impression that the site home page will remain, as well as
the survey etc. Geeklog would be linked from the home page. Not sure about
the "collection of little links", hopefully there will be some quality
content in the CMS



>> Every one I've shown the site put together by Jamie has been impressed!
It's clear, simple to navigate, conveys it's >> >> message and looks
welcoming and yet very professional.  To me, it's only fault was that it
lacked a few features and Jamie >> didn't have sufficient time to keep it
fully updated.

I am of the same opinion, chuck a few more features into the website and
that's all that's needed, the question being: what features and how are they
to be implemented? A database driven program with user management means the
site will offer lots of features and the is capable of running itself.
Despite the facilities offered by PHP to develop an organic site easily I
for one do not want to end up manually creating/editing/adding
pages/features etc every time something changes.



>> I'd like to see a Slug site much as we've been used to, but with the
power provided by CMS to have the calendars etc .  I >> dislike the login
stuff too.  I see it as shouting "Bugger off! Your not welcome unless you're
one of us!"  Not my idea of >> the Linux/open source philosophy. ;)  I know
anyone can sign up.  But doesn't that kind of make it irrelevant?  I think
>> >> the site is better off without it!

>> I agree that we need to make it possible for everyone to be able to
submit stuff.  But we have to be able to vet it before >> it goes live or
we'll end up with Viagra and penis enlargment adverts etc on the site!
Those that we trust should have a >> way to submit stuff to remove some work
from the webmaster.  This should be easy to do with a login page with an
address >> not made public, but given to those regarded as trustworthy.
I've done this sort of thing myself with .ht access and
>> found it works well.

The login feature can be disabled but that would result in every post
(article, comment etc) being made by "Anonymous" so it would be impossible
to figure out who wrote/said what. Also there is no possibility of filtering
so Anonymous could post spam etc and the Admin would have to manually filter
everything, or just let it through and what the hell. Also without a login
there is no way of providing user preferences or offering the admin and user
management.
So what is a better way of removing the login whilst keeping track of posts
and retaining editorial control? Not to mention any user preference
facilities for both the user and the admin.



>> Have the news thing if you wish, but to me that's covered by the mailing
list and shouldn't be on the front page.  I can >> see that logging in here
might be necessary to be able to track people making posts.  But keep it
here.  I see no need for >> it elsewhere.

>> I like the poll it's light hearted and gives an idea of what people use
and allows them to interact with the site.  But it >> shouldn't detract from
the survey, which if used in conjunction with a screenshots page allows
those who are just curious >> about linux to see what can be done with the
hardware the group have.  ie.  You don't need a googlehz processor to run
the >> latest distros.

The mailing list is good, but only for those who are subscribed to it and
there is no easy way of referring to an article or piece of information
posted in the past. The CMS would become an archive for stuff previously
posted on the discussion list, this would make it more accessible for site
visitors who are aware of the discussion list.
Survey's can provide the user with some interaction and they can be used to
address some serious issues, its just a case of promoting the survey more
than the polls and then its up to the site visitor to decide what they want
to interact with.



>> A link to a map showing the venue of the meetings wouldn't go amiss
either for those living outside scarborough.

Easily done with a postcode and multimap



>> I know my little website is total crap.  But how about links to Slug
members sites, so people can get an idea of who we >> >> are?  Might shake
off the geek image of all being pale pasty nerds terrified of sunlight! ;)

Nothing wrong with having a crap website, if it wasn't for crap websites
there'd be no need for the Internet :) . True enough though, maybe putting a
public face to the slug members maybe more inviting, no full frontals
though.



>> I'm sorry to be negative, and I do appreciate the hard work people
(particularly Ian and Paul) have put in to get this >> >> going.  But I feel
the site is going in the wrong direction.  I'm probably in a minority of one
here.  But you asked for >> opinions. ;)

Very much the reverse Al, standing up and voicing your opinions is positive
and helps everybody. What we need to do is decide exactly what we want and
how we can use what Jamie has provided as a foundation to get there. For now
I can't see any point in continuing any further work on Geeklog and will
leave things as is.

Ian

ps
As it has taken a day or two to compile this lot a few more posts have been
raised, so bear this in mind when reading this