h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Damnyoureyes does post occasional journals about new updates. A lot of problems are caused by the integration of several systems, so anything that's trying to unravel that lot will be a job to sort out.

If it's stable, it's fine. If it's not, it may be easier to start from scratch, which will take time.

On the plus side, we do have Jim Lynn, who may not be able to dedicate much time to it (he is a busy person!) but may be able to show others the right direction.

Forgot to say, I also work at a commercial company specialising in web tech

But yes, as you said Pastey, the odds on us being able to afford to buy h2g2 are slim unless absolutely nobody else is interested.

Vip, you checking your phone today? Or are you at work?

I think the full time techie may be essential. But the editor and the community editor could probably be done collaberatively by a group of experienced volunteers couldn't it?

Great to have Pastey on board..

"But yes, as you said Pastey, the odds on us being able to afford to buy h2g2 are slim unless absolutely nobody else is interested."

In this case it should not all be about the money, it should be about what offers the best deal for the site users (a few letters to MP's should help make this point)

Sorry babe, at work. I'll be around this evening though.

"In this case it should not all be about the money, it should be about what offers the best deal for the site users (a few letters to MP's should help make this point )"

Why? And why should MPs care?

"The site's on a Zend framework, it's not *that* hard."

Ok, not gonna get into a technical richard oscillation competition here, I'm not familiar with Zend or PHP myself, but my understanding is there's a fair bit of back end stuff too in the database. And, as I say, those who have seen the code only managed 80% functionality in 12months cos it is a tad, erm, organic.

Which is why we'd need tech design and such to come up with a good estimate - I think to preempt the understanding of complexity is always a bad idea with IT systems (or indeed with any system).

"Forgot to say, I also work at a commercial company specialising in web tech"
I gathered that from your previous posts
However, since neither of us has seen the code or the design, who we work for and their corporate specialities are kinda by-the-by. But if we can get hold of such documents, you're input will be invaluable in working out what we are dealing with.

Er, I *may* have seen the code, but let's pass that over as it was accidental.

They like to keep constituents happy, I've yet to write a letter to an MP that hurt the cause I was writing about and quite often it has helped (and once directly lead to change in legislation). The support of MP's can help create public pressure for a specific coarse of action.

Slightly off-topic but I firmly believe that you cannot expect elected representatives to represent you if you do not let them know what you are thinking.

Worth pointing out at this stage: I've asked a few of the big questions. Not technical stuff, but 'whether a community bid is realistic' kinds of questions. I'll let you know as soon as I do. Not that that should stop anyone else asking anything of any sort at all in any way.

Please do keep us informed.

Just a note from the peanut gallery:

One small savings I think we could take advantage of is dropping the outsourced moderation. I much prefer self moderation via the yikes and with volunteer moderators who are community members.

Just my

Carry on.

Shall I start a list serve / yahoo group?

To clarify: I work for the web department of a print publication. I am not a total code fiend, but nor am I a total novice.

If the number of active users is what we all suspect it is, then a transition to a community-led, all-volunteer phase isn't totally mad. Ambitious, yes, but not bonkers.

Shall I start a list serve / yahoo group?

yes

There's currently 52 online (which is the largest I've seen in weeks, you'd think something exciting had happened!). It's certainly a far cry from the constant 100+ days.

Oh, I'll also help out with spreading the word and in whatever other way I can.