MobileRead Forums - View Single Post

JimmXinu · 04-14-2015, 07:01 PM

I hadn't really considered a sub-forum at the 'E-Book Software' level, but now that chaley's mentioned it, it's not a bad idea, at least from my POV.

Because FanFicFare, as a whole, is going to need more than just the single plugin thread--the old version already has more.

The older version, FanFictionDownLoader has the plugin, a Python CLI and a web service version. The plugin is the newest--and most popular--of the three interfaces.

There's currently a Google Group for the project: CLI and web service users are generally directed there, and plugin users to the forum thread here, though some plugin users do post to the Google Group. (I was just considering whether to rename the Google Group or find something else for the CLI/web service users. I basically use the Google Group as a mail list, not as a repository of past discussions and answers.)

If I had one place for both sets of users, that would be a distinct benefit to me. And I pretty much have to have a thread here for plugin because that's how plugins are distributed.

For the other suggested criteria, I estimate that FanFictionDownLoader has on the close order of 1000 users. I doubt that there are multiple thousands. Presumably they will eventually all switch over to FanFicFare.

I can't promise a community of active users, but there are some other developers and users who help answer common questions when they come up.

I also know users comment on finding it difficult to locate previous answers in the existing plugin thread. Presumably that would be better with more structure, but that seems common to all support forums/lists in my experience. (Then again, we don't see posts from the people who find their answers...)

I'm personally in a poor position to judge community benefit vs "significant management complexity (moderation)" because I don't know how much moderation work would be involved.

04-14-2015, 07:01 PM	#6
JimmXinu Plugin Developer Posts: 6,995 Karma: 4604635 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Midwest USA Device: Kobo Clara Colour running KOReader	I hadn't really considered a sub-forum at the 'E-Book Software' level, but now that chaley's mentioned it, it's not a bad idea, at least from my POV. Because FanFicFare, as a whole, is going to need more than just the single plugin thread--the old version already has more. The older version, FanFictionDownLoader has the plugin, a Python CLI and a web service version. The plugin is the newest--and most popular--of the three interfaces. There's currently a Google Group for the project: CLI and web service users are generally directed there, and plugin users to the forum thread here, though some plugin users do post to the Google Group. (I was just considering whether to rename the Google Group or find something else for the CLI/web service users. I basically use the Google Group as a mail list, not as a repository of past discussions and answers.) If I had one place for both sets of users, that would be a distinct benefit to me. And I pretty much have to have a thread here for plugin because that's how plugins are distributed. For the other suggested criteria, I estimate that FanFictionDownLoader has on the close order of 1000 users. I doubt that there are multiple thousands. Presumably they will eventually all switch over to FanFicFare. I can't promise a community of active users, but there are some other developers and users who help answer common questions when they come up. I also know users comment on finding it difficult to locate previous answers in the existing plugin thread. Presumably that would be better with more structure, but that seems common to all support forums/lists in my experience. (Then again, we don't see posts from the people who find their answers...) I'm personally in a poor position to judge community benefit vs "significant management complexity (moderation)" because I don't know how much moderation work would be involved.