Regarding a pure-data user portal, I'm inclined to think that a single person doesn't have to devote all their time to maintaining it to keep it vital. A good example of an enormously active user community that doesn't require a lot of managing is metafilter.com.

Because it's thread-based (like Slashdot), the users themselves are responsible for keeping the site active and up-to-date. As long as any given pd developer or user feels that they have a responsive audience, I think an open system that will allow them to post their own discussion topics and software will be more than enough motivation to ask everyone to pitch in.

Let's lay out some objectives for the site. It seems like we can split the user's needs into two categories: music and development.

For the musicians, one element that I find sorely lacking in the pd community is a place where users can exchange patches. (A small amount of pd patch exchanging can be found on www.em411.com. It's nice, but not enough.) If we can develop a system where the user can not only upload the patch and all of the necessary abstractions, but also name the build version and libraries involved, it should be easy enough to get everyone on the same page.

In order to convince developers to use the site for their purposes, we'll need to create an environment similar to what's hosted over at sourceforge. Devs should be able to list projects, have others comment on them, and note version changes whenever they like. The devs section could be a very handy reference for those looking to download missing components of a patch that they'd like to use.

These two elements together should do wonders for those looking to learn about pd. In addition, we should create a learning environment where people can upload docs and patch-based lessons.

As for the software needed for this kind of venture, could "Freefilter" (http://www.bigbold.com/freefilter/) be modified to accomplish all of this? I've been considering developing a pd community along these lines, so I'd be more than willing to help out wherever I can.

  ---Marcus

Message: 1 Subject: Re: Re[4]: [PD] pure-data.org From: jfm3 jfm3@ouroboros-complex.org To: PD list pd-list@iem.kug.ac.at Date: 12 May 2003 23:05:17 -0400

I agree with the basic assessment: developers will publish and share their work in whatever way strikes them as easiest at the moment. They're primarily interested in developing, after all. A common CVS

tree

is miracle enough!

What I thought would be useful was a portal for users of pure data. I think I was wrong, or at least, unable to power the idea as much as it needed. Not just a portal for users is needed, but a portal for users edited by someone who is a developer, who also packages pd and it's externals for different platforms (eliminating significant user

hassle),

and has the patience to do so in a strong long-term commitment. Thousands registered at pure-data.org. The not-a-developer user community is obviously there. But the unanswered question is, will a combination of a portal and a set of pd+externals package maintainers would successfully meet a need of those users? Probably.

So at that point, why not build a portal around one of the existing libre-audio-software-packaging projects, and perhaps a set of contemporary artistic philosophies, i.e., subjective content as well as objective content? This is what I'm hoping to build. Of course, it will take even more energy than pure-data.org did, so I'm trying to build it with a distributed editorial process. We all joust at windmills. One of mine seems to be shaped like an internet community.

I also suggest against bickering over the site engine implementation language. Just get something reasonable from the open source community, make your 20 lines of changes, and then get back to worrying about content! Those who use the site won't care about variable declaration semantics!

All my hot air aside, one of you say the word and I'll transfer the domain. The site you build is more important than the clever domain! I will keep the existing thing up for another month or so...