0.11.11

This is the list of things I'd like to see in the November 2011 OpenHatch release.

We can change this document!

Theme: Simplify.

= Basically can't live without it: Website =

Fast developer setup
Goals:


 * Linux-based developer setup should take <= 5 min
 * Mac-based developer setup should take <= 10 min
 * Windows-based developer setup should take <= 15 min

Status: The technical changes are probably complete. Documentation-wise, we should write clear instructions for Windows, Linux, and Mac users go from "I don't know if I have Python installed" all the way to "runserver is running."

Finish migrating all bug trackers to new "bugimporters" framework

 * Write more about this, but anyway, that's the goal.
 * Remove the "mysite/customs/bugtrackers" directory entirely.

Fix some core known problems related to site uptime

 * Asheesh says this is "some basic performance improvements to a few sites, and a few Apache tunable parameters, away from being true."
 * This is done!
 * Next month, though, we ought to do load testing to be more sure that the site won't go down all the dang time.

Initial implementation of handler for people who've clicked "I want to help"
Right now, when visitors to OpenHatch click a button on a project page indicating they want to help, we add them to a list. We have repeatedly received feedback that project maintainers want the ability to manage this as a queue.

(Recently, we've used the short-hand "IWH handler" to describe this -- "I Want to Help" handler.)

More info:


 * Mockup and conversation: http://openhatch.org/bugs/issue282
 * Related bugs: http://openhatch.org/bugs/issue567 http://openhatch.org/bugs/issue568 http://openhatch.org/bugs/issue570

Owner: Asheesh (but someone else may take it)

Skills needed: Familiarity (or willingness to learn) Django

(Asheesh's note: I'm particularly motivated to see us get this done, so I'll make sure it's on my agenda if no one else takes it.)

Add some reasonable antispam to project pages
They get spam. What a drag.

Maybe filter links with the Akismet module.

Rate each of the training missions w/r/t Missions Pedagogy

 * More info: Missions pedagogy

Owner: ?

Skills needed: Willingness to think carefully about clarity in teaching.

= Basically can't live without it: Non-website =

P2PU-based "How to join Open Source" class begins
Owner: Asheesh

See: Campus outreach 2011-2012

Three commitments from campuses for dates for "How to join Open Source" class
Owner: Asheesh

See: Campus outreach 2011-2012

= Non-urgent but important: Web tech =

Project page reorganization
When you visit a project page within OpenHatch (e.g. https://openhatch.org/+projects/OpenHatch ) it is unclear which parts are for new contributors, and which parts are for current maintainers.

In September, we began to discuss some UI changes to improve this.


 * More info: http://lists.openhatch.org/pipermail/devel/2011-September/002394.html

Owner: ?

Skills needed: Django templates, plus small bits of Python, plus an ability to think critically about web layout.

Stop using embedded copy of patch parsing library
As described at http://openhatch.org/bugs/issue562, we have a copy of patch.py in our source code.

We should move it out so that it is a dependency, and make sure our tests pass.

Design a frame that provides context for OpenHatch users who visit bugs on other bug trackers
When you click out of the volunteer opportunity finder onto a bug, the bug tracker can be confusing.

We should make a mockup and discuss it.

More info: http://openhatch.org/bugs/issue247

Owner: ?

Skills needed:


 * Willingness to think critically about what information could improve newbies' experience on bug trackers

IRC training mission
One essential skill for many people, in terms of participating in open source projects, is being able to chat on IRC. Let's have a training mission for it.

More info:


 * Bug: http://openhatch.org/bugs/issue396
 * Discussion of possible plot: http://lists.openhatch.org/pipermail/devel/2011-September/002396.html

Owner: Alex Ose said he aims to work on this

Skills needed: Solid understanding of IRC, and willingness to take feedback on the content of the training mission.

Buildhelper lets you edit via a textarea
A new, under-publicized feature of the project pages (e.g. https://openhatch.org/+projects/OpenHatch ) is the "buildhelper," a set of steps a new contributor would take that sets up a usable build environment.

Read more about the buildhelper here:


 * Blog post: https://openhatch.org/blog/2010/introducing-the-buildhelper/
 * Click around on one that is working: https://openhatch.org/+projects/OpenHatch#buildhelper

Right now, we have a working (and simple) frontend and backend for the buildhelper. However, there is no way to edit a buildhelper document except from the Django admin interface.

I think we should:


 * Write code that converts the models to a text-based representation that looks like MediaWiki markup
 * Provide a textarea that lets people edit this MediaWiki markup
 * On save, render that markup into HTML, and then parse the HTML into buildhelper step objects for the database

Owner: ?

= Non-urgent but important: Non-web tech =

Not-for-profit corporation is created
There is a good chance that, during November, we will create the Massachusetts not-for-profit corporation to house the project. That'd be great. We can then file the IRS paperwork.