elementary-dev-community team mailing list archive

[Nopey Nope <cptspacetoaster@xxxxxxxxx>]

There are solutions that bridge a single channel in slack to an IRC
channel: https://github.com/jimmyhillis/slack-irc-plugin

I think this would be an ideal solution.  That way, slack members aren't
completely cut-off from IRC, but the division of the specific channel helps
prevent the "virtual office" from being disruptive.  Ignore the channel if
you want, or stop on in if you feel like it.

I just don't think it's healthy to move the experienced individuals away to
a "walled garden" where you will have no indication of a serious problem.

On Sun, Apr 12, 2015 at 8:46 PM, Daniel Foré <daniel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

> Hey there,
>
> I definitely understand your concerns and we've talked about trying to set
> up a public channel but Slack just isn't built to do that. So there are
> technical challenges.
>
> But I think one thing that should be made clear is that developers are not
> support staff. Some developers have made themselves available to provide
> support and that's awesome, but that is their choice. Slack is not a
> Support channel. It's our "virtual office". It's our work place. Not a call
> center.
>
> That said, we definitely understand that providing better information and
> support is something very important and it is one of the goals of the new
> website. I think you'll find that the new "get involved" page has way more
> information than the old one and we intend to continue to iterate to make
> it better.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Daniel Foré
> elementaryos.org
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 12, 2015 at 8:34 AM, Nopey Nope <cptspacetoaster@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi!  I'm a little new here.
>>
>> I'm primarily a C and Java dev, with a comfortable level of Linux
>> experience.  I'm by NO MEANS an expert, but I truly enjoy helping other
>> people solve issues if I'm able to help.
>>
>> I maintain an IRC presence for a couple projects, and I fell in love with
>> Elementary the moment I saw it.  I don't mind answering some of the easier
>> questions, or topics in our channel (#Elementary at irc.freenode.net),
>> but the dev's perspective has... put me off a little bit.
>>
>> From an IRC-perspective, the Dev's have basically created a walled garden
>> with how they treat the slack servers.  I personally understand WHY they
>> have done so.  And... *that's completely fine.* Creating a space where
>> developers can go and talk to other developers on an invite-only basis is
>> incredibly healthy, and encourages a lot of growth for that community.  I
>> don't want that to stop.
>>
>> The issues arise when we're stuck in the IRC channel alone.  I'm
>> comfortable with bash scripts, some basic package-managing, and I've helped
>> with a couple of other odd issues, so I feel comfortable/qualified to at
>> least try and help, but what happens when I run into another issue that
>> needs a more experienced perspective?
>>
>> There are a couple of other individuals in the channel who can also help,
>> but that isn't always enough.  We run into questions that require some more
>> insight, and because the knowledgeable talent is behind slack, it's largely
>> inaccessible.
>>
>> I've had to redirect a number of individuals to the sub-reddit, but
>> that's not a great solution if Eos' IRC just points people Reddit all the
>> time...  (Also, I'm disregarding SO atm)
>>
>> Has the dev-community considered adding an IRC-bridge channel?  If not,
>> would it be possible to allow members interested in support to join the
>> Slack server?  I feel like there needs to be SOME level of access, but I
>> understand why the devs would want to limit it, or have it go though some
>> level of filtering before the devs are constantly barraged with a stream of
>> "it doesn't work"
>>
>> Thoughts?
>> -CptSpaceToaster-
>>
>
>