[documentation] Hitchhikers guide to Drupal

[Boris Mann]

On 5-Jan-06, at 10:37 AM, Kim P. Werker wrote:

> It seems to me that presenting Drupal as a developer's playground  
> where mere-end-users-not-contributors aren't welcome is okay if the  
> goal of the development is to make more development. But if the  
> goal is to make the software popular, then some compromises would  
> be beneficial. There's definitely something to be said for the end- 
> user who "only" gives back by telling everyone she knows that  
> Drupal is the best CMS around.

The missing piece is that there are no goals to make the software  
popular. Some business entities -- like Laura's consulting practice  
or my own Bryght -- certainly do benefit by having the software  
popular BUT...the only desire of the amorphous community as a whole  
is to make the software BETTER. (Better for whom? Good question.  
That's where it gets difficult)

> I like Laura's wording below (except that, to my understanding,  
> "kibitzing" means chit-chatting -- maybe you meant "kvetching,"  
> which means complaining?) Of course, I also think that whining can  
> be valuable, too -- staying in touch with the user base leads to  
> development with their needs and wants in mind, which leads to a  
> more popular product if done right. Sure, whine-fests are annoying  
> and counterproductive. But making note of the initial whine can be  
> useful.

Drupal is a framework. As such, there is no ONE user base and thus  
one set of end needs in mind. If I were to development, for example,  
a Drupal distribution designed for project management, it would  
probably meet very few of the needs of someone looking for a blogging  
portal.

> I'm sure that in many respects I *am* the person this page is  
> about. Though I'm not basing my experience of Drupal on commercial  
> software. I'm basing it on software like WordPress, the oft- 
> maligned phpBB, etc. I had a hell of a time first starting to use  
> Drupal, and that's why I'm on this list.

Actually, I would say you are the type of person that doesn't need  
this notice at all...since you've jumped in and started contributing.  
The desire for a document like this is to have a single page to link  
to quell the "useless" kvetching/whining that comes up.

I also +1 Laura's version...

--
Boris Mann
Vancouver 778-896-2747 San Francisco 415-367-3595
SKYPE borismann
http://www.bryght.com