As for the domain name, sappy for sure, though I found it used exclusively in this group. But even if I had something better like AllThingsHabari it may still not address your concerns, which I appreciate and understand.
Then again, maybe we need more of those millions of people who record every moment of their life to get using Habari. Two separate markets whereby the core site doesn't offend the sensibilities of developers and the masses don't get turned off by the techno-babble. Since even Apple and Wordpress have lots of fan sites and blogs that offer relevant non-corporate approved content there must be something to the concept. I'll be the first to admit that I tend to strike while the iron is hot, and then often fizzle out (as in get just as busy as the rest of you). I doubt that I would have devoted the last week to building up the forum if I had had to wait for feedback and consensus approval since even responses here are understandably a tad delayed. I just think I'll feel more of a responsibility to keep it going if it's under my control and I mentioned earlier on that I'd like to perhaps monetize it at some point. I don't care if it ever pans out financially but if I throw a lot of time at it and can make a buck to eventually cover the cost of hiring a web developer, great. Other projects would instantly make more if I used the same amount of time to work on them. Habari's success equals my success sort of thing. I guess there are lines between all out altruism and fiscal sensibility. No one here is giving up their day job to devote their life to this, nor should they be expected to. That may be one of the things holding Habari back. I'm sure even Michael knows you can't take in every stray if you don't have the ongoing resources and motivation - though I do have friends with over 20 cats that manage it, albeit with difficulty and the continuous heartache and expense of illness and death. We stopped at five cats and three dogs. You know, I feel bad even saying all this. I feel like a traitor even though greed is not my motivation. Hope for the success and recognition of everyone involved is. I think that's what I sensed has been happening here. On Tuesday, January 8, 2013 10:59:02 AM UTC-5, Michael Flux wrote: > > Somewhat off topic thought, and this is no more than just my personal > opinion of course, but I can't but be getting the feeling almost like the > word 'habarians' come off sounding a tad on the childish/silly side. I > guess to me at least, a 'central directory' would appear to be a bit more > trustworthy and legitimate if it was all revolving around the > habariproject.org domain. I guess what I feel like is that the website > at the core of everything needs to improve and be the all encompassing, > highly organized and very densely packed source of information - rather > than additional 3rd party websites which just feel tacked on at the end of > the day. Thoughts? > > On Tuesday, January 8, 2013 10:18:31 AM UTC-5, Les Henderson wrote: >> >> See. I knew there were others who felt somewhat the same and could still >> express their love of Habari, warts and all. >> >> The fact that both Michael and I have run animal rescue groups would be >> too funny if it wasn't such a sad topic at times. We both must see Habari >> as something that could use a foster family. Not that anyone is abusing it, >> but it's like you've had it tied up in the back yard for five years. Time >> to unleash it and let it go for a run. >> >> Michael, even dated, your site is a sensational example of what would >> have sold me on Habari since a picture is worth a thousand lines of code. I >> admittedly have no skills in the design area. My forte is writing, >> research, organizing and demystifying. I've tried to bring together all the >> great Habari info that is scattered across many old blogs in the hopes that >> centralizing will bring SEO relevance to the brand. >> >> I propose that we work together on having you fix up a feature-set >> example of Habari in action which could showcase other great Habari-run >> sites along with postings about various plugins and themes. We could even >> use some of the ACL features to allow anyone interested the ability to >> contribute. After all, it's supposed to be a key cutting edge feature but >> I've yet to see it in action anywhere. Be great if we could convince a news >> chain to adopt it for use. >> >> I'd like to keep in under one roof at habarians.com but that's just >> because I see the disparity of currently only using another tool (mybb) to >> promote it. I realize it's a big job but I'm newly energized knowing I have >> like-minded support. Thanks for the boost. >> >> PS: My wife liked you the moment I mentioned your rescue efforts. That >> instant trust is something we need to generate with first time visitors to >> all things Habari. >> >> Les >> >> On Monday, January 7, 2013 11:26:33 PM UTC-5, Michael Flux wrote: >>> >>> Hi Les, >>> >>> I've been following this thread for the last week and thought I'd >>> finally chime in. It's nice to see new people still showing interest in >>> Habari... When I was my blog in 2009 I spend many weeks looking at just >>> about every single CMS under the sun. On one hand I really wanted to use >>> WP just because of how popular it is - however you spin it it's nice using >>> a product around which the whole world revolves. Then I came upon Habari >>> -- daaamn, what a change! Stunning clean interface, everything is quick, >>> no distracting crap everywhere etc. Naturally I was instantly hooked. Now >>> fast-forward a couple years, and the blog that I used to update daily I >>> haven't even touched in a couple years. Now I don't in any way mean to >>> come off sounding as if I'm in any way pushing my own laziness onto >>> Habari... ...but you know that feeling you get when you use something new >>> and shiny? -- you get a new vacuum and all of the sudden you're vacuuming >>> daily, you get a new phone and you're playing with it nonstop etc. To some >>> extent that was the feeling that completely faded back then when it came to >>> Habari for me. >>> >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habari#Release_history - that really >>> summarizes one of the biggest problems. I started using Habari at version >>> 0.4 - fast forward 5 years, and we're still not even at 1.0 - but ok ok, >>> perhaps there is still a ton of great features that the core developers >>> didn't feel like it was worth a big version number. Security fix, security >>> fix, security fix, security fix, security fix. I mean if I'm a brand new >>> user right now and I look at that, I feel like I just started using Windows >>> XP in the year 2010 where the only future that it has is some security >>> updates every 6 months. Lets be honest, you look at that and it just >>> screams half-dead/dying project to anyone who isn't a part of the core. >>> >>> Now, that aside, a couple years ago, as ringmaster may remember (at the >>> time I was using Ink/InkMaster usernames in the IRC channel) I actually >>> really wanted to give Habari a new face - even started making some mockups >>> back then. http://cl.ly/image/2J2h203l310K - but then I got a bit >>> bored and unfortunately too many other things came up which forced me to >>> halt all of that. >>> >>> I really do want Habari to start progressing. I really, really want it >>> to take off. Excluding things like SquareSpace, I'm still yet to find any >>> CMS systems for blogs that would be as elegant, all of them just feel >>> disgustingly bloated (looking at WP here). So for what it's worth Les, I'm >>> a front-end developer/designer and I specialize/love to work with the very >>> simple, easy to navigate, use etc interfaces - really exactly what Habari >>> is trying to come off as. Both my michaelflux.com website, and the >>> screenshot I linked to above are quite poor representations of my current >>> work as both of those are 3-4 years old. But while I have a very >>> limited amount of time, I'd love to help you out in any ways I can. >>> >>> Morydd, *"We would love to have people who were as passionate about the >>> front facing aspects of the project take the lead on those things."* >>> Perhaps I'm just that person? - of course if the rest of the community >>> is actually interested in developing the brand and there isn't any silly >>> opposition along the lines of 'If there are more than 500 users, it' >>> too mainstream!" :p >>> >>> Les, on a separate note, I'm currently living with 8 cats, all 8 which >>> we picked up from the streets ourselves - though only 4 are "ours", rest >>> are fosters which hopefully will be adopted out soon! :) >>> >>> Michael >>> >>> On Monday, January 7, 2013 7:23:59 PM UTC-5, Les Henderson wrote: >>>> >>>> I'm sure I don't need to keep making my point since you are fully aware >>>> of the situation but I just found another post from 2008 at >>>> http://readwrite.com/2008/09/28/will_habari_be_the_next_wordpress that >>>> has the subheading of >>>> >>>> It's Not New, They Just Need Better Marketing! >>>> >>>> The Habari Project <http://www.habariproject.org> has been around for >>>> a couple of years now, so you may have heard of it before. If not, don't >>>> worry - you're not alone. >>>> >>>> On Sunday, December 30, 2012 7:48:43 PM UTC-5, Les Henderson wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I was put onto Habari by a big fan user and thought I'd try to get it >>>>> running because I like to support what might be perceived to be >>>>> underdogs. >>>>> After dickering with it a bit from the perspective of a person who >>>>> doesn't >>>>> hold a degree in Computer Science or Artificial Intelligence I have to >>>>> note >>>>> that I see opportunities for improvement, not of the program but the way >>>>> it >>>>> is promoted and supported. >>>>> >>>>> I don't say this to be critical but rather that I am excited about >>>>> seeing an underutilized opportunity. I love Open Source and free things >>>>> but >>>>> realize that they require a lot of devotional free labour and kind >>>>> contributions to keep alive. I've run a free resource for a decade and >>>>> it's >>>>> cost me tens of thousands in unwanted legal fees and more again for my >>>>> time. >>>>> >>>>> Presently I find the documentation way over the heads of even someone >>>>> like myself who can usually figure things out, given enough time. I >>>>> wonder >>>>> if the core group of supporters would be horribly distraught if I >>>>> arranged >>>>> to organize and fund a more user friendly users group website that I'd >>>>> have >>>>> to fund with Adsense? >>>>> >>>>> Then I could approach it from a noob's perspective and hopefully get >>>>> more people on board as users, rather than let it languish and fade away, >>>>> something I fear I see happening. I'm open to ideas and discussions and >>>>> really mean no unintended offence. >>>>> >>>>> Anyway, I get a lot of foolish brainstorms about adoption when I see >>>>> things I like that are suffering. We have several dogs and cats that came >>>>> as strays. Ha. >>>>> >>>> -- To post to this group, send email to habari-users@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to habari-users-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/habari-users
