I too think that flightgear.org needs to be revamped. As a returning user to fg I'd say that the presentation of the project is poor but the software is great. However, it takes some time to realize the fact that fg actually is usable ... it may be due to the fact that I use a mac and other OSes have less issues before they get started. The thing is that I think that many non-programming potential users gets scared off because the very confusing collection on information on flightgear.org (I include the wiki in this statement). However, following the information flow around fg makes me realize that the software is not intended for general use and I do not think the primary goal is to attract a lot of users. I recall that someone actually pointed this fact out in one of the mailing lists a few months back.
One major issue is that some posts in the mailing lists becomes a flame war as soon as someone of the major (most important?) contributors doesn't like what they read. So as a almost non-contributor I decided to contribute in flaming. In this specific case I think Curt should simply say: "Get lost, I am running the flightgear.org web page, if you don't like it too bad go somewhere else" because it seems to the way he feels. Those of us who have issues with such a statement should go somewhere else and create another competing web site that is open for more collaborative efforts. An example is http://wiki.flightgear.org but it is hidden and is not really a good example of where to go for ideas for an improved flightgear.org. Another example is the mac specific web site http://macflightgear.sourceforge.net/ and before this thread I could not understand why it existed. I'd like to point out that I really do not want to see a split but it is frustrating to see people like Heiko who expresses ideas of how to move the flightgear project forward gets ignored. I'd even like to see the mac specific site integrated into one common flightgear.org. I'd like to see information on how to contribute to the project. I'd like to see accessible tools for creating scenery and airports. I'd like too see more contributors to docs, web pages, code. I'd like to see a new mission statement for fligthgear emphasising on end-user experience. However, I do not expect to see much of the above in the near future. Why not follow Linus Torvalds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Torvalds) example of delegating tasks and at the same time keep some control? And I do understand, in an open-source project each contributor chooses what to work with but project management should encourage work on neglected and less sexy task in the project. Project management should also outline development paths and make decisions. At some time point projects become larger that single project members, I think fligthgear is close to that point. Flightgear simply has the potential to become too successful for its current structure. Are the fligthgear project managers up for the task taking the project one step further? To conclude, open up the maintenance and development of the flightgear.org web site to more users/developers. And, the rest will follow because you (Curt) might realize that it is actually really nice to see someone else do the job you were supposed to do. Cheers, Jari - returning to the task of getting the latest CVS committed Atlas to run on his mac Heiko Schulz wrote: > Lol... > >> That's actually a really cool picture! The reflection of the modern jet in >> the windows in the background. > > It wasn't my intention just to show a nice pic- I wanted you to just explain, > why I'm so strong in convincing you that there are better ways to present the > OpenSource FlightGear Project! > The Ju52 was a great aircraft, safe in flying, possible to use as passenger > aircraft and cargo aircraft, robuste, strong. It was the main aircraft for > Lufthansa and it even flew from germany to china once a time. > But time went one, and there came better aircrafts, which replaced the Ju52. > Today it is the B737 which is the main aircraft for Lufthansa- and will be > also replaced in the next years. Guess why.... > Our current presentation on the web was good for a long time- but I think > there are no better possibilities available. That's all. On the pic in front > you could also try to see current flightgear.org- in the background a > possible new flightgear.org. > But I feel, that there is nothing that could convince you- so I give up now. > You won! > > > HHS > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Crystal Reports - New Free Runtime and 30 Day Trial > Check out the new simplified licensing option that enables unlimited > royalty-free distribution of the report engine for externally facing > server and web deployment. > http://p.sf.net/sfu/businessobjects > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Flightgear-devel mailing list > Flightgear-devel@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/flightgear-devel ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crystal Reports - New Free Runtime and 30 Day Trial Check out the new simplified licensing option that enables unlimited royalty-free distribution of the report engine for externally facing server and web deployment. http://p.sf.net/sfu/businessobjects _______________________________________________ Flightgear-devel mailing list Flightgear-devel@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/flightgear-devel
