[OSM-talk] our Q&A site help.openstreetmap.org is dying

[Mateusz Konieczny]

Stack Overflow is using the same type as software, not the same software.

May 20, 2020, 14:52 by andreas.vilen at gmail.com:

> Can't we update as they do?
>
Stack Exchange is running private proprietary software, that is a separate platform.

And yes, you can pay them to run your own instance.

At 5$/per user - every month ( https://stackoverflow.com/teams/pricing )

At 12$/per user every month if you want any moderation tools.

Some OSM content is on topic on https://gis.stackexchange.com/
(I used to be active there but 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stack_Exchange#Declining_relationship_between_users_and_company
https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/333965/firing-mods-and-forced-relicensing-is-stack-exchange-still-interested-in-cooper
etc happened)

May 20, 2020, 14:52 by andreas.vilen at gmail.com:

> Stack overflow seems to use the same software and is highly active. This seems to be updated? Can't we update as they do?
>
> https://stackoverflow.com/questions>  
>
> /Andreas 
>
> On Wed, May 20, 2020 at 9:34 AM Tobias Wrede <> list at tobias-wrede.de> > wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>  
>>  we have several channels in OSM to facilitate discussions and support. 
>>  First touch point for new users is often >> help.openstreetmap.org <http://help.openstreetmap.org>>> . 
>>  Questions relating to mapping in general, tagging, editors, development, 
>>  OSM based applications are asked there and get answered in most cases.
>>  
>>  The site is based on OSQA, a software which has not been maintained in 
>>  some time. Some application errors have surface in the past but had to 
>>  be ignored since no fixes are coming from OSQA any more. Until now we 
>>  could live with that. They were annoying but not critical. There are 
>>  open tickets on OSM github to move the help site to some other framework 
>>  (>> https://github.com/openstreetmap/operations/issues/149>> , 
>>  >> https://github.com/openstreetmap/operations/issues/377>> ) but there isn't 
>>  exactly an abundance of volunteers to take care of that.
>>  
>>  Usability of >> help.openstreetmap.org <http://help.openstreetmap.org>>>  has now seriously worsened over the 
>>  past few days with some js error popping up for longer and longer times 
>>  (>> https://help.openstreetmap.org/questions/74831/why-does-the-add-a-new-comment-button-sometimes-not-work>> ). 
>>  Buttons to support formatting questions and answers are gone, comments 
>>  cannot be added and moderation functions (reporting, converting 
>>  questions to comments etc.) are not working anymore.
>>  
>>  If this continuous we can shut down the site soon. Even if this problem 
>>  got resolved somehow it's only a matter of time until a new problem 
>>  arises. The site provides a low entry hurdles place to ask questions 
>>  that can be solved by simple answers. I'd hate so see it gone.
>>  
>>  I'm neither a programmer who could help out on the technical side nor am 
>>  I involved in OSM organization and politics to have an idea on how this 
>>  could be sorted out. Question around: Can we find someone to take care 
>>  of the technical side? Can we involve any of the OSM organizations to 
>>  find, maybe pay, someone? Does the community even find it worthwhile 
>>  keeping the site?
>>  
>>  cheers,
>>  
>>  Tobias
>>  
>>  
>>  
>>  
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  talk mailing list
>>  >> talk at openstreetmap.org
>>  >> https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk
>>

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