Information Life Cycle

[Jan Vancura]

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Paul O'Malley wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Proposed patch that might help fixing bug 1.
>
> We actually have to realise that users have needs, and users need to
> know where to get those needs serviced.
>
> The Wiki does one set of tasks.
> help.ubuntu.com does another
> the forums do another.
> IRC does another.
>
> Recently several people on this list from mdz through to corey, mdke
> and others have all said something like this:
> "Good information for users, helps users get what they need to
> achieve their goals."
> Sourcing that information is the thing.
>
> On IRC we have a bot which points in some cases to the wiki, some
> cases to the forums, and also the the help.ubuntu.com, and other
> locations.
>
> I do not have all the answers as to how to achieve all this, however
> here are some of my thoughts.
>
> We need to get or create a tool that can create a "meta database" of
> all info on all of the information propagation methods we have.
>
> This tool effectively becomes the information front end to all
> things good.
>
> Imagine our own search engine, it does the docs, and how does it
> choose the keywords, it uses section headings.
>
> With this index in hand you can tag the urls that are on the wiki.
> A compare and contrast exercise can then take place and where
> appropriate the wiki page (say for universe synaptic or universe)
> can be given a "URL Stamp" at the top which says for example,
> http://help.ubuntu.com/6.06/ubuntu/desktopguide/C/extra-repositories.html#AddingExtraRepositories

> for the version.
>
> This means that information can be honed to the point where
> supported information get higher ratings, and dirty hacks get left
> behind.
>
> However how do you define what information you want.
> Perhaps something like this http://ubuntu.cc.com.au/pop.php which
> tells you what people most ask about could be used to help inform
> the decision being made.
> Regardless of the accuracy of the actual factoids (which I will deal
> with in a moment), this list means that most people have at the
> moment a request for
> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/RestrictedFormats
>
> This document has also been the subject for discussion on this
> platform.
>
> (I do agree with the idea of one lead and several smaller ones, but
> that is a separate issue.)
>
> The next thing that needs to be done is that the searches on the
> wiki should become part of the information process.
> What are people looking for?
> How do we address those needs?
>
> This is one reason to allow people search "help.ubuntu.com".
> Again search logs become part of the information life cycle process.
>
> The key to all this is to define the keywords words, and create an
> index of them.
> The quality of the information is for another day.
>
> (I hope this is not too hard to parse.)
>
> Regards,
>
> Paul
>
Very interesting - very helpful... very NEEDED.

I have one great fear, though. Have a look at these (I tried to order
them (chrono)logically, but just by memory, and it's not that important):
Forums - Wiki - doc.ubuntu.com - help.ubuntu.com - gwos -
ubuntuguide.org - easylinux.info

Each of the above (except perhaps the first) was, in the beginning an
attempt to GATHER all the knowledge in the existing sources in one,
easy to use place. Did they succeed?

No.

They only succeeded in creating one more source, usually redundant in
about 80% of the content, with a whole new team, whole new system.
If we are to succeed on Preparation H of this plan, we need to act
smart, learn from the above:
THINK first
THINK again
THINK some more...
If, and only if we think of something perfect - we act.

Let's not scatter ourselves anymore, please...

Jenda Van?ura
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