Better forums

[Vladimir Panteleev via Digitalmars-d]

On Thursday, 18 June 2015 at 02:13:13 UTC, Morbid.Obesity wrote:
> It seems the forums are picking up a bit with newer people.
>
> I suggest that subforums be used for specific topics or a tag 
> based system like stack overflow.

You mean the "Learn" forum? Because that form of discussion is 
only applicable there, and not for general discussion.

> At some point it will get out of control and have to be 
> changed... better not wait until that happens.

I don't know what you mean by this. I don't see how a simple 
increase in users and activity would invalidate the current 
format.

> I know that nntp might be an issue, one could possibly use 
> something like ##interfacing ##Java ##DLL at the end of the 
> subject of a post that remains compatible but newer software 
> can keep track of all the posts and allow searching using tags.

I don't see what considerable advantage would be provided by 
tagging threads. Impossibility of editing will be another 
difficulty.

> Better yet, create some bidirectional middleman between stack 
> exchange and the D forums/nntp.

I don't see what this would achieve.

> Alternatively, and IMO the best way, simply drop backwards 
> compatibility with the newsgroups and get out of the dark ages.

Again, you mean just the "Learn" forum?

I'm biased, but generally speaking I think we're in a much better 
place than most other programming language communities.

For example, Rust mainly uses GitHub issues, Go uses Google 
Groups, Nim uses a (very simple) custom forum, many other have 
just mailing lists or no official forums.

We have:

- Access via NNTP, mailing lists, or web interface with 4 
different view modes
- Threading
- Mobile-friendly view (apparently not perfect but much better 
than nothing)
- Keyboard navigation
- Fast load speeds
- Open-source, self-hosted solution, no dependency on 3rd-parties

I think we have many advantages and few disadvantages compared to 
other

> If D wants to represent the future it shouldn't use neanderthal 
> technologies, specially as a form of communication. We do not 
> communicate in grunts because it is inefficient and there are 
> better ways(english, for example... or any modern natural 
> language), and therefor, we shouldn't use nntp as a form of 
> communication when there are better ways.
>
> [I'm not advocating the full logical conclusion but something a 
> bit more reasonable than 'living in the dark ages(taking into 
> account computer years ;) )]

Old technologies are not inherently worse. On the contrary, a 
technology's age may show its maturity and widespread support - 
consider the vast number of NNTP and mail clients you can get for 
any platform and operating system, all of which can be used to 
access this forum.