Dear Freenet Developers, I could say "I have a brilliant idea" but I realize it sounds quite trivial :) However, I really think I have two specific solutions for two Freenet problems. The first one is about archiving and accessing archived messages in Freenet groups. The second one proposes how to make the Freenet Project more popular.
I'm presenting these two ideas in detailed way below. If you find them useful (or at least partially useful) I would be more than happy as I'm a great Freenet fan. But if my ideas don't appeal to you and you find them worthless then just ignore my e-mail. I believe that sharing ideas (even if they're somehow obvious and banal) may improve the project. Maybe you will use some of themin future when creating the 1.0 version of Freenet :) Best regards, Karol * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Ideas: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1. The retention problem in Freenet message groups (boards) Short description: Storing and accessing archived messages using groups' readers - software like Frost or FMB. Longer description: Everyone using Frost or FMB may be disappointed by the "retention problem". It means that messages posted to Freenet groups are accessible in the network for a very small period of time. That is because of the Freenet's specific architecture. There are no archives of particular Freenet groups because there are no servers which could keep older messages. This problem makes Freenet groups quite inconvenient comparing them with Usenet groups or web based discussion boards (forums) where archived messages are easy accessible for users. A new user who joins a group expects to read its archived messages and eventually to answer some of them. Solution: Well, when a group is created all messages can be automatically archived by users who want to do this. Using a special feature in a newsreader (for example, called "auto-store messages") they can be saved and stored off-line (sic!) on users' hard drives. A new user joining a group may request to download its archived messages by placing such request in a special control message sending to the group (for example, called "download group archive"). Once message is sent it may be automatically proceeded by these users who have stored (off-line!) archived messages and who agree to send them to the requester (this newsreader option can be called, for example, "auto-send archives on request"). Then it is sending in the typical Freenet's way - the compressed package is anonymously uploaded to Freenet and the user downloads it automatically using his group reader (newsreader). That's all. Additional information: Of course some archives of a group may differ as not all users are still on-line and have all messages. But a newsreader should be able to complete archives using different sources (downloading archives from other users, comparing them and creating the one complete archive of a group) - this option can be called, for example, "reconstruct group archive". More users join and read a group (and post to it), more completed archives the group may have. It is efficient because it promotes well-organized groups with a lot of active users while ephemeral groups disappear as nobody reads them and archives their messages (content). Storing groups' archives off-line and uploading them on request cause that the whole Freenet network works more efficient due to the fact that this solution saves traffic and space. In general, this solution is somehow based on the Usenet structure with the advantage of Freenet anonymity. Conclusions: The retention problem described above is inevitably connected with newsreaders - software for accessing groups (reading and posting to them). It should be designed in the way to allow users to operate very easily. Clear but in the same time advanced interface is the key. For example, the tree-thread list structure (collapse / expand threads) or the web-boards answering style (an answer for a particular thread shifts this thread to the top of the threads list). Such solutions can be copied from some good Usenet readers. It is really worth introducing because it may encourage more people to use Freenet groups (and so Freenet itself) which may even become the real alternative to Usenet in some future. Off course I realize that perhaps this proposal is rather for Frost or other newsreaders software developers than for Freenet Developers. But I think Freenet Developers should also be noticed about this idea. However, this kind of scheme (storing information packages off-line and sending them on request by uploading them to Freenet) may be used even for creating Freenet web-based forums in some future. 2. How to popularize Freenet among internet users? Translating the main web page of the Freenet Project into other languages and creating an easy as well as users-friendly web-based forum. This idea is obvious and easy to be done. Translating the main web page of the Freenet Project (freenetproject.org) into other languages can be very beneficial. I'm sure there are a lot of Freenet friends who would like to support the project this way. 7-10 language versions of the Freenet web page could bring a serious number of new users to the network. These language versions of the main web page don't have to be the exact and full translation of the original English version. It may be something like a simplified version of the main web page, including step-by-step instructions (how to download the software, install it, connect to the network and use it - illustrated with proper screenshots), basic information about Freenet and its creators, philosophy, FAQ and the most important news. The web page content is rather "static" (it is not changed often and it is updated quite rarely) so it would be easy to maintain other language versions. Maybe it is a good idea to announce that the Freenet Project is looking for voluntary translators of its web page? Think about it. Another feature improving Freenet's popularity would be the web based forum where people interested in Freenet could ask questions and gain more information about the project. It would be much more convenient than existing mailing lists and their archives. The forum could have also language sections. This idea is also easy to introduce and may be very valuable in popularizing the Freenet Project. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
