[documentation] Contributors to docs need more public recognition

Steve Dondley sdondley at gmail.com
Mon May 26 15:13:01 UTC 2008


Based on the feedback so far, allow me modify the original proposal
and put this on the table:

1) A new block on each document page is should be visible.
2) The intent of the block is to recruit more document contributors
(which has been the intent behind the original proposal as well).
3) The block should be visible to all users, anonymous or not.
4) The block will be titled "Thanks to Our Document Contributors!"
5) The content of the block will say:

To see who pitched in with this page, click here."

To find out how you can help, "click here".

6) The first "click here" link will take people to a prettier version
of the "revisions" page which lists each person's id (we can debate
whether or not it links to the person's id) and lists the revisions
they have made.

7) At the top of this list of contributor's we have a big ad with the
appeal: "This page and all the documentation on Drupal.org is the
result of the work from Drupal contributors. Click here to learn how
you can join us."

So the modified proposal changes very little to upset the status quo.
The only changes are:

a) You won't have to be logged in to view who contributed to a document page.
b) It creates a new block on each page thanking those who helped and
encouraging others to help.
c) It requires some code to generate a page listing the contributor's
and the revisions they committed to the page.

The only sticky issue I see at this point is that some people may want
to post their work anonymously because now the list would be
accessible to anonymous users. I could go either way on this but
because it requires more work, -1 to the idea of allowing people to
remove themselves from the list. Pluse, we don't make special
allowance for module maintainer to hide themselves from anonymous
views. To those who fear extra unsolicited emails, I recommend
adopting the following policy:

1) Politely decline to help the person and direct them to the issues
queue where they can ask their support question.

I will volunteer to create the block and the new page if a technical
person could advise on me on scalability issues.


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