[OSM-dev] Notes - OSM improvements BoF at SOTM PDX

[Paweł Paprota]

On Tue, Oct 16, 2012, at 11:09, Frederik Ramm wrote:
> > - How could the Mapnik style be more open to improvements? We
> > definitely need to get it on GitHub.
> 
> I don't think the version control system used makes a difference - I
> doubt the 400+ issues filed against the current style would be solved
> quicker with git. The problem is not that this uses SVN (...)

I think there is some kind of "social coding" positive effect when
things are on Github. I can't explain it but it just is. As for source
control - I can't stand working with SVN anymore, Git just spoiled me
with cheap local branching and such.

> 
> In Wikipedia, all user-to-user messages are automatically public (unless 
> both parties agree to take it to email). Maybe food for thought - do we 
> need private messages at all? There seem to be quite a number of bullies 
> in OSM who send self-important messages to lesser experienced mappers 
> explaining "their" rules... that could be stopped if all messages were 
> public.
> 

That is a very interesting idea and I like it. Encouraging people to use
public means of communication ("wall"-style messages, forums etc.) is
definitely the way to go. Once there is some kind of public messaging
(wall, activity stream or otherwise) integrated into osm.org I don't see
the benefit of having private messages anymore - that is what e-mail
should be for.

I'm writing down your idea to bring it up at some point in the future.

Paweł