[vtkusers] Wiki

Prabhu Ramachandran prabhu at aero.iitm.ernet.in
Fri Jul 30 13:27:15 EDT 2004


>>>>> "JR" == James Robinson <j.robinson at kepler-systems.com> writes:

[snip wish-wiki]

    JR> It is quite likely that I am describing functionality that
    JR> isn't part of the Wiki, but I think it is a mechanism which
    JR> would greatly enhance the flow of information.

Yes, it does not work that way.  In as much as you can't write a book
by just organizing mailing list messages, you can't quite provide a
coherent database using just a mailing list.  I don't think AI has
improved so much that human intervention in cases like this can be
eliminated.  A Wiki is a collaborative environment where anyone can
edit, create and link to articles inside and outside the Wiki along
with images, equations, code examples etc.  So it does allow someone
to do what you would like: collect material from existing posts on the
ML and then organize it into coherent and clear articles on the wiki.
Try playing with the sandbox to see what you can do.  Once you get
started and create some content you will find it fun and interesting.
Also note that it is quite possible that newbies will start mining the
wiki (if it has enough information) before posting questions on the
ML, so folks can indeed concentrate on the wiki.  Finally, if someone
does post a detailed and interesting post on a particular topic, it is
quite easy for them to cut/paste the content onto the wiki after
suitably editing it.  Alternatively, they can write it up on the wiki
and point to it there.  That eliminates the cut/pasting and keeps the
answer for posterity.  Bottom line: the tools are all in place, its up
to us to use it well.

cheers,
prabhu



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