From: Brett Paatsch (paatschb@ocean.com.au)
Date: Mon Jan 27 2003 - 20:16:28 MST
Lee Daniel Crocker wrote:
> > (Brett Paatsch <paatschb@ocean.com.au>):
> >
> > If someone (maybe Lee? who might know what's involved) could put
> > together a rough costed plan AND there are no substantial reasons for
> > opposing the proposal then my third question would become where
> > do I send money to help cover the costs?
>
> The cost would be essentially zero. Anyone with a server could set
> one up, and at the level of traffic likely for our group, it would
> be only a minor blip in server usage. The only thing ExI board
> approval would be required for is to put it inside the extropy.org
> domain. There are many software packages available for free,
> including the one I wrote for Wikipedia, but it might not be ideal
> since it was designed specifically for the needs of that project.
Thanks Lee. I'm no programmer, webmaster or sysadmin, but I've had
some experience in managing an IT consulting co including the
infrastructure aspects. I think that in saying the cost is essentially zero
you are not including cost of skilled time (such as yours) to set it up.
And I think we also need to take into account that some skilled time
(and a *physical presence* is required somewhere - maybe near the
ExI server? - to ensure backups etc are made) and for ongoing
maintenance and support at some level. I.e.. There would perhaps
need to be someone willing to be do some moderating (perhaps like
Eliezer does with SL4.org). Any volunteers for say a three month trial?
I don't know how much on-going time would need to be spent by some
skilled folk(s) to do the maintaining, moderating and similar ongoing tasks.
But on the principle that *any* extrope with skills could always find
*something* else extropic to do with "spare" time I think we *should*
acknowledgement that there is in fact some costs involved in ongoing
maintenance and support which should be factored.
Even to do the setup, to take a let's-build-it-and-see-if-they'll-come
approach for a 3 month trial say, requires some sort of commitment
from someone (like Lee) to do the setup and to do some maintaining and
to make that commitment its reasonable that a hurdle level of interest be
set so that that person(s) time is not wasted.
I reckon there were about 5 or so extropes who said they were interested
in an ExI wiki complementary to the ExI list. I don't recall anyone
opposing.
How many would be enough for the project to move from a concept to a
let's-give-it-a-go-thing? If we can get 10 say would that be enough to
justify
a test run for 3 months? What is the level of interest needed Lee? (I just
had
a "flashback" to a Bible story where Abraham or Lot was 'negotiating' with
God to save Sodom and/or Gomorrah if he could only find a few good men
- but that's irrelevant. Forget I mentioned it :-)
BTW. Bearing in mind the ExI board or someone on it would need to
give the project the ok. I noticed in a recent WTA-announce post that
the ExI Board has had some changes. Natasha is now President and Max
has stepped aside (presumably to do other things)? Thanks, best wishes
and more power to Natasha, Max, the new ExI board and team!
Can someone on the ExI board advise if there are any logistical or other
impediments to starting a wiki as a complementary facility to the list if
we can find sufficient levels of interest on the list and have resources to
get it setup and maintained for say a three month trial? A nod of 'in
principle'
assent (or otherwise) from someone on the ExI board would seem to be
a prudent next step.
Regards,
Brett
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