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GRiker · 01-24-2011, 07:25 AM

I'm posting this because I'm concerned about the future of this forum, and more generally, the future of calibre.

Brief background: I discovered calibre in April of 2009 after purchasing a Kindle. After learning the basics of version 0.5.9, I started asked questions on this forum, learning from fellow users. When I learned that some features I wanted weren't available, I decided to roll up my sleeves, learn Python, and teach calibre some new tricks. My first code contribution was in July of 2009, and I've been contributing code and occasional forum answers ever since.

My concern: Over time, I have witnessed a slow but certain shift in the basic attitude of new folks joining this forum. When I started spending time here, the general attitude was "Wow, this is free software?" and "Wow, the actual developer will talk to me, usually within the same day?"

Now, I'm seeing a growing number of new posts more along the lines of "I can't figure out how to do X and someone needs to solve it for me." They may have made some half-hearted attempt to search the forum, but decided it would be easier to ask everyone else. The sense of new user entitlement has grown at an alarming rate.

I'm not blaming the newbies. Calibre is a massive piece of software with an enormous range of functionality that evolves every week. As a contributing developer, you might think that I am aware of all the changes. I'm not - I just know about the changes I'm involved with, a small percentage of the overall changes from release to release.

When I see a snarky response to a newby question that boils down to "RTFM", that pains me. To me, it means that we, as a community of developers and users have not done an adequate job of simplifying the learning curve and sharing our knowledge.

In theory, the answer to just about any question about calibre lies in this forum. The knowledge contained within these posts is astounding. I frequently search the forum for answers I remember seeing, and I often save threads I know I'll want to come back to later. (Thread tools|Subscribe to this thread). And if an answer is not here, posing a question in a competent manner usually yields a thoughtful answer.

What I'm proposing: A restructuring of the sticky section, with a single FAQ topic:

New to calibre? Start here

The goal of this new FAQ would be to provide hand-holding to new users with respect to the non-changing elements of calibre, and the most common new user problems.

This topic would be a moderated thread, meaning that some designated individual(s) would have the responsibility of maintaining it. Initially, it would contain links to all the current sticky threads, which would be converted to regular threads, plus links to recurring topics.

This new FAQ would be read-only, unlike the current FAQ sticky which quickly became unwieldy. Requests to add content to the FAQ would be directed to the folks maintaining it.

I don't know how Kovid feels about this, nor the other active developers, but I am certain that if we don't reduce the noise around here, the quality of support we've all enjoyed will rapidly erode.

If you have constructive comments, chime in.

If you would be willing to participate in the moderation of such a FAQ, please identify yourself. You don't have to be technical, but you do need to be literate and willing to invest the time.

G

Code:

Proposed forum Structure:

All stickies are read only

Calibre
  Stickies: 
    1. Read this first with instruction on how best to use the forum, as brief as possible

Sub forums:

Recipes: 
  Stickies:
    1. Code snippets (open)
    2. Howto use a custom recipe in calibre
    3. How to write your own recipes

Devices:
    Stickies:
    1. What to do when your device is not detected (Kovid)
    2. Apple device issues (GRiker)
    3. Plugboards (chaley)
 
Catalogs: (GRiker)

Conversion:
   1. Using search and replace
   2. Creating Table of Contents
   3. PDF issues

Library management:
  1. Using templates for adding/exporting books
  2. You cannot control the calibre directory structure
  3. Tips on advanced searching

Plugins
  1. How to use plugins
  2. A list of plugins with a link to the thread for each plugin

Volunteers:

Post in this thread if you are willing to volunteer and I will update this section. I envisage volunteers having moderating permissions on the calibre forum (and subforums)

Piper_
GRiker
kovidgoyal
theducks
Manichean
kiwidude
ldolse
dwanthny

01-24-2011, 07:25 AM	#1
GRiker Comparer of the Ephemeris Posts: 1,496 Karma: 424697 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad	The Future of this Forum I'm posting this because I'm concerned about the future of this forum, and more generally, the future of calibre. Brief background: I discovered calibre in April of 2009 after purchasing a Kindle. After learning the basics of version 0.5.9, I started asked questions on this forum, learning from fellow users. When I learned that some features I wanted weren't available, I decided to roll up my sleeves, learn Python, and teach calibre some new tricks. My first code contribution was in July of 2009, and I've been contributing code and occasional forum answers ever since. My concern: Over time, I have witnessed a slow but certain shift in the basic attitude of new folks joining this forum. When I started spending time here, the general attitude was "Wow, this is free software?" and "Wow, the actual developer will talk to me, usually within the same day?" Now, I'm seeing a growing number of new posts more along the lines of "I can't figure out how to do X and someone needs to solve it for me." They may have made some half-hearted attempt to search the forum, but decided it would be easier to ask everyone else. The sense of new user entitlement has grown at an alarming rate. I'm not blaming the newbies. Calibre is a massive piece of software with an enormous range of functionality that evolves every week. As a contributing developer, you might think that I am aware of all the changes. I'm not - I just know about the changes I'm involved with, a small percentage of the overall changes from release to release. When I see a snarky response to a newby question that boils down to "RTFM", that pains me. To me, it means that we, as a community of developers and users have not done an adequate job of simplifying the learning curve and sharing our knowledge. In theory, the answer to just about any question about calibre lies in this forum. The knowledge contained within these posts is astounding. I frequently search the forum for answers I remember seeing, and I often save threads I know I'll want to come back to later. (Thread tools\|Subscribe to this thread). And if an answer is not here, posing a question in a competent manner usually yields a thoughtful answer. What I'm proposing: A restructuring of the sticky section, with a single FAQ topic: New to calibre? Start here The goal of this new FAQ would be to provide hand-holding to new users with respect to the non-changing elements of calibre, and the most common new user problems. This topic would be a moderated thread, meaning that some designated individual(s) would have the responsibility of maintaining it. Initially, it would contain links to all the current sticky threads, which would be converted to regular threads, plus links to recurring topics. This new FAQ would be read-only, unlike the current FAQ sticky which quickly became unwieldy. Requests to add content to the FAQ would be directed to the folks maintaining it. I don't know how Kovid feels about this, nor the other active developers, but I am certain that if we don't reduce the noise around here, the quality of support we've all enjoyed will rapidly erode. If you have constructive comments, chime in. If you would be willing to participate in the moderation of such a FAQ, please identify yourself. You don't have to be technical, but you do need to be literate and willing to invest the time. G Code: Proposed forum Structure: All stickies are read only Calibre Stickies: 1. Read this first with instruction on how best to use the forum, as brief as possible Sub forums: Recipes: Stickies: 1. Code snippets (open) 2. Howto use a custom recipe in calibre 3. How to write your own recipes Devices: Stickies: 1. What to do when your device is not detected (Kovid) 2. Apple device issues (GRiker) 3. Plugboards (chaley) Catalogs: (GRiker) Conversion: 1. Using search and replace 2. Creating Table of Contents 3. PDF issues Library management: 1. Using templates for adding/exporting books 2. You cannot control the calibre directory structure 3. Tips on advanced searching Plugins 1. How to use plugins 2. A list of plugins with a link to the thread for each plugin Volunteers: Post in this thread if you are willing to volunteer and I will update this section. I envisage volunteers having moderating permissions on the calibre forum (and subforums) Piper_ GRiker kovidgoyal theducks Manichean kiwidude ldolse dwanthny Last edited by GRiker; 02-08-2011 at 03:37 PM.