2015-02-27, 08:15
I've been looking through the forum and I see the need for an area I feel is missing.
I'll go into detail in order to best explain my proposal. (the below is my opinion based on observation and belief in purpose)
Requirements for a Support and Product Forum
1. Easy to access from around the market (in this case the world, as Kodi is globally used) - This is met.
2. A clear structure without overdoing catergories but making it easy to find what's needed - This is met.
3. Clear separation of active stable product, development, social and general - This is partially met.
4. A team of forum staff and members willing to help - This is met.
5. Maintaining a structural balance for first time users, developers and Team Kodi members with as little confusion as possible - This is partially met.
Present Node Structure
Section 1. Announcements, Info, and General Discussion
Section 2. Help and Support
Section 3. Development
Section 4. Off-Topic
Section 5. Read only forums
Note: Section 1a refers to 'Forum Rules', Section 3e refers to 'Python Add-on Development' etc.
Proposed Structure with reason
Key: RED = change | ORANGE = name change | GREEN = no change
Section 1. Announcements and General Kodi Discussion
a. Official Announcements & Forum Rules [merge of Forum Rules (1a) & Kodi Announcements (1b)]
b. General Discussion [name change]
c. Hardware Discussion [new section: split from section 2, this has become a more 'heated' area and support should not be in the same section as general chat about a specific item]
d. Website & Forum Issues or Suggestions [moved from section 3]
Section 2. Help and Support (removal of "Help and Support" is not indicated as a name change: there's no need to have it written so many times)
a. Tips, tricks, and step by step guides [removal from section 1 and added to section 2]
b. Operating System-specific
c. Hardware
d. PVR & Live TV [name change due to some not understanding that PVR also means how they access their 'Live TV' part from within Kodi]
e. Skins
f. Add-ons
g. Supplementary Tools
h. View Guides in the Kodi Wiki [I feel an external link to kodi.wik would be useful here]
Section 3. Development (removal of "Development" is not indicated as a name change: there's no need to have it written so many times)
a. Feature Suggestions [bumped up one place to section 3a, all subsequent items will not have an indication for a change or order due to this]
b. Core Development [name change due my understanding that this sub-forum is for specific discussion of the 'core' parts of Kodi]
c. PVR [name change (apart from removing "Development" due to understanding for developers of what the PVR is]
d. Skinning
additional sub-forum for section 3d - Add-on Skin Requests [I feel this would be useful for the many talented python developers who may want to request a more 'inclusive' default skin for their add-on, I believe it would also help bring in new skinners]
e. Python Add-ons [moved to match current structure of the above Section]
f. Scrapers
g. Screensavers & Visualizations
h. Translations & Languages
i. Team Kodi Featured Discussions (read-only) [moved due to being read-only]
Section 4. Off-Topic
This seems like it's wasted and not really used, uncertain about this area. Personally I'd add this into section 1 as a last option.
Archive & Garbage
Leave 'as is' apart from above name change.
I realise the changes suggested will take less time to do that it has to write about them, but it's a small change that I feel would benefit the community, reduce confusion for first time users and provide a more consistent forum structure.
Does anyone agree, or is this me being too picky?
I'll go into detail in order to best explain my proposal. (the below is my opinion based on observation and belief in purpose)
Requirements for a Support and Product Forum
1. Easy to access from around the market (in this case the world, as Kodi is globally used) - This is met.
2. A clear structure without overdoing catergories but making it easy to find what's needed - This is met.
3. Clear separation of active stable product, development, social and general - This is partially met.
4. A team of forum staff and members willing to help - This is met.
5. Maintaining a structural balance for first time users, developers and Team Kodi members with as little confusion as possible - This is partially met.
Present Node Structure
Section 1. Announcements, Info, and General Discussion
Section 2. Help and Support
Section 3. Development
Section 4. Off-Topic
Section 5. Read only forums
Note: Section 1a refers to 'Forum Rules', Section 3e refers to 'Python Add-on Development' etc.
Proposed Structure with reason
Key: RED = change | ORANGE = name change | GREEN = no change
Section 1. Announcements and General Kodi Discussion
a. Official Announcements & Forum Rules [merge of Forum Rules (1a) & Kodi Announcements (1b)]
b. General Discussion [name change]
c. Hardware Discussion [new section: split from section 2, this has become a more 'heated' area and support should not be in the same section as general chat about a specific item]
d. Website & Forum Issues or Suggestions [moved from section 3]
Section 2. Help and Support (removal of "Help and Support" is not indicated as a name change: there's no need to have it written so many times)
a. Tips, tricks, and step by step guides [removal from section 1 and added to section 2]
b. Operating System-specific
c. Hardware
d. PVR & Live TV [name change due to some not understanding that PVR also means how they access their 'Live TV' part from within Kodi]
e. Skins
f. Add-ons
g. Supplementary Tools
h. View Guides in the Kodi Wiki [I feel an external link to kodi.wik would be useful here]
Section 3. Development (removal of "Development" is not indicated as a name change: there's no need to have it written so many times)
a. Feature Suggestions [bumped up one place to section 3a, all subsequent items will not have an indication for a change or order due to this]
b. Core Development [name change due my understanding that this sub-forum is for specific discussion of the 'core' parts of Kodi]
c. PVR [name change (apart from removing "Development" due to understanding for developers of what the PVR is]
d. Skinning
additional sub-forum for section 3d - Add-on Skin Requests [I feel this would be useful for the many talented python developers who may want to request a more 'inclusive' default skin for their add-on, I believe it would also help bring in new skinners]
e. Python Add-ons [moved to match current structure of the above Section]
f. Scrapers
g. Screensavers & Visualizations
h. Translations & Languages
i. Team Kodi Featured Discussions (read-only) [moved due to being read-only]
Section 4. Off-Topic
This seems like it's wasted and not really used, uncertain about this area. Personally I'd add this into section 1 as a last option.
Archive & Garbage
Leave 'as is' apart from above name change.
I realise the changes suggested will take less time to do that it has to write about them, but it's a small change that I feel would benefit the community, reduce confusion for first time users and provide a more consistent forum structure.
Does anyone agree, or is this me being too picky?
