Skype Conference

[Alex Rollin]

Dave,

I'm trying to reach out to you.  Mike schooled me in the direction towards
integration into a webapp.  I'd like the opportunity to pass on what I
picked up, and to share the documentation I've made so far of what plan and
feature set.

Currently, Mike described to me, in detail, what crossforum theatre is and
how it works.  This is his idea, and mine now, of how to move ahead with the
finalization of the Votorola prototype.  A simple crossforum theatre
prototype is just that; simple.  It will fill out for you and others with
questions how, currently, the Votorola system would serve a webapp, and
allow us all to have a conversation about requirements for moving forward.

In this case moving forward would probably mean moving functions around in
the architecture.  Mike expressed to me that he'd like to see crossforum as
a prototype before going ahead with additional moving of functions.  As an
example of a function, think of the votorola pollserver and the display of
the votetrace as a visual interface.  Mike thinks this function will
probably move elsewhere.  Without the system complete, though, it seems a
shame to go and do that now.

My notes are still a bit messy, but this is what I wrote down from the
conversation with Mike on crossforum
http://u.zelea.com/w/User:Alex.rollin-GmailCom/Cross_Forum_UI_Prototype

In addition you may be interested in the package of functionality called
"Vote Processing", some of which could be implemented now, and some of which
really, really is appropriate for later conversations about architecture
changes.
http://u.zelea.com/w/User:Alex.rollin-GmailCom/Vote_Processing

I recommend you read these pages and give me a call if (when) you need
clarification (because my notes are messy :()

Alex
PS, please add me on skype as discursives

--
Alex

“It’s no longer possible for a country to collapse in isolation. Now we all
collapse.

The only path to stability is to equalize the consumption rates of the first
and developing world. Our dream is no longer possible in the new world.” -
Jared Diamond March 2010



On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 5:04 PM, David Bovill <david at vaudevillecourt.tv>wrote:

> On 27 October 2010 03:15, Michael Allan <mike at zelea.com> wrote:
>
>> Sorry all for being out the loop, I hope to catch up soon.  I'll just
>> reply to David first so I don't hold up his project.
>>
>
> No intention of it being my project. I am interested in an open project
> which is collaboratively owned, and in which participants agree to work
> together on common goals. For my part that means I am prepared to work on
> things that other members find would be useful to the general goals of LD,
> even if I disagree with the approach, should that be what other people vote
> / decide is the best way forwards.
>
>
>> We spoke before.  I'm not sure you want me in discussions at this
>> stage.
>
>
> Of course! I'm sure everyone feels it is very important for you to take
> part in the discussions? C'mon - it will be good :)
>
>
>> My current work is focused on theory and prototyping of open,
>> general purpose networks.  Those might not be priorities for you.
>>
>
> I thought we clarified that with my earlier post. Not just me, but I am
> completely sure everyone here on this list is interested in open general
> purpose networks. If there is any dissagreement about anything it is how to
> get there. I believe and argue as clearly as i can that this is best
> achieved by matching the aims with the methodology, that is the project
> should be open to more people from more backgrounds, and that it should be
> structured in a clear open organisation. I want more openness not less.
>
>
>> Just quickly: Do you require my help?  At what stages?  In what roles?
>>
>
>    1. It would be great to have your help in installing Votorolla on the
>    new shared and open hosting platform.
>    2. To take discuss how best to integrate Votorolla technically with
>    different front ends
>    3. To discuss how to scale the backend and ensure good performance
>    4. Simply to say hello to new people that I hope I can bring to the
>    project and can be of help to all of us in building open distributed general
>    purpose LD implementations.
>
> When? Now :) - or at least lets start with a Skype chat?
>
> What roles? Well that's for you to offer really. What I understand from
> what has been said before, is that you do not want or need to be paid to
> work on a project, and that you see your role as continuing to work as an
> individual and not as part of a team subject to team decisions.
>
> That is good and understood. It is a clear position, and many people like
> to and demand to work in no other way. However, from a practical
> perspective, and as discussed earlier this position makes it impossible to
> fund raise for a project in which I can guarantee to a client - say a local
> authority here, that we would customise Votorolla to work with a particular
> group of users. I can't pitch for a project when it is not certain we have a
> good developer to implement it.
>
> If your position has changed on this, that is you can see yourself working
> as part of a team to deliver a contract to implement a robust LD
> implementation for a community oriented project, then great - let's talk
> about it!  Assuming this is not the case, then I can see a clear role, in
> which you advise on how we could add to the open source code base for
> Votorolla, and advise / mentor any developers we bring into the project.
>
> Please note, I am not suggesting that I lead this project, or that you work
> "for" someone. Nor am I assuming that you would lead the project. As i see
> it there a several talented people with different things to offer, and it
> should be possible to run and agree on decisions in a participatory fashion
> based on a partnership with simple group decision making practices / voting.
> Also the scope of any such project can easily be limited to delivering an
> outcome for a client - after which everyone can go back to their own thing
> taking whatever code, assets and experiences were generated by the work (as
> these would be open).
>
> I see my role here is, simply to be open and honest about what I see as the
> best way forwards to reach common goals. I do believe the best way to do
> this is to work together, and that is what I am here to argue for.
>
> I think a good starting point is to have a Skype chat where we can all meet
> up and where you can explain how you would see taking Votorolla forwards so
> we can avoid duplicating code bases and work. I should also say that I am
> arguing strongly for trying to integrate Votorolla in these projects, and
> trying to integrate your skills and energy, as I am quite sure it would
> deliver exactly what you are looking for. Personally I value people over
> code, so if there is anyway this can be done I will argue for it regardless
> of the merits of any particular code base.
>
> At the moment, we can't really see how to integrate Votorolla easily into a
> well designed web app. What woudl be great is if you could talk us through
> how you can see this happening. Dave Woods is a sysadmin by profession, and
> we've both tried to figure out how to build on the code base - but as ever
> we are leaning towards implementing something ourselves based on a different
> and more standardised platform. If there is anyway I can avoid this - I'll
> fight / vote for it, for the reasons sited above.
>
> I think it will also help if I outline the nature of the project / users we
> are aiming at addressing here in the UK, and I will do that in a separate
> email - as this one is getting long in the tooth. So to end up, yes please
> take part in the Skype conference, lets talk about how we could integrate
> Votorolla into other platforms / front ends?

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