Search
Forum Home | Login
Zoomba
Zoomba
Join Date 11/2002
+114

WC Poll: A WinCustomize Wiki?

Trying to make the community a better place.

External Link
March 27, 2007 1:25:21 PM from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Back in December of last year, we solicited user feedback on how to make WinCustomize a better resource to the skinning community on the article "How Stardock Failed the Skinning Community in 2006". If you haven't read the original article and the subsequent discussion, it's worth your time to check out.  And your cries haven't fallen on deaf ears, we are in the process of addressing the issues brought up by the community.  To start with, we're trying to tackle one of the most common complaints: Documentation.

A number of times, users said they would love to see a Skinning Wiki, a central source of documentation that users themselves could edit and update.  Internally we talked it over and thought it would be a good idea and something worth investing some of our time and effort into.

So this week's poll is "How would you participate on the WinCustomize Wiki?"  I'm trying to get a feel for if enough people would be interesting in acting as contributors and helping grow the wiki as the definitive resource for all information skinning, or if the interest is largely limited to those who want to read but not necessarily contribute.

Vote in the poll above, results posted next week.

Locked Post
Search this post
Advanced Search
Subscription Options
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
NightTrainthedark
Join Date 07/2003
+255
Reply #1 March 27, 2007 1:28:14 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I'll add what I can towards a Windowblinds tutorial.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
ZubaZ
Join Date 11/2001
+917
Reply #2 March 27, 2007 1:43:04 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Sign me up for OBjectBar, DX application (not scripting) and general editor
Sounds like fun.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
Philly0381
Join Date 11/2004
+844
Reply #3 March 27, 2007 1:52:37 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
As stricky a user of the products here I would be willing to beta test tutorial's and provide feedback on compatiability issues.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
Corky_O
Join Date 04/2004
0
Reply #4 March 27, 2007 2:35:46 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

It sounds like a good idea for tutorials, but the one issue that is utmost in my mind is the constant state of change in the Stardock 'point' programs (e.g., WindowBlinds, IconPackager, etc.). This constant state of change makes it harder for anyone outside of the Stardock crew to know exactly what will and will not be accurate information.

One example:

I installed WindowBlinds 5.5 - both the stand-alone and via Stardock Central - released this year after the aforementioned article and found that the included "documentation" is a previous version modified by placing an image over some text and that some of the images are inaccurate for the current version (e.g., user overrides). Unfortunately, this did not strike me as a professional document.

I don't want to be an ass, but it seems like the current documentation is not being addressed properly (perhaps being dismissed in favor of the upcoming releases such as WB 6?).

As I have mentioned before, I design and produce documentation for a local manufacturer in the Seattle, Washington area and therefore know that it can be a significant undertaking. Unfortunately, if you do not start to design and produce it accurately, the first to suffer are the customers who want to use it without having to contact support or go to a web site to find the latest information.

Corky steps off his soapbox......

On a positive note, I do know that the issues can be overcome if effort is put forward now instead of later, and that the overall impression of the products can be improved greatly by simply adding accurate and thorough documentation illustrating how to use all of the functions of said products.

A 'Wiki' would be great step for the community in any case, assuming the product changes are not so large that the volunteers become overburdened with catching up.

To answer the primary question of this post, I would be willing to update (or re-create) my mini tutorials once the main product I focused on (ObjectDock Plus) is finalized (waiting for the 'ObjectDock library' issues to be resolved in the next maintenance release). I do not know if these are considered a part of the 'Wiki' (perhaps not), but I can at least help with that much of the issue.

Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
PoSmedley
Join Date 04/2005
+788
Reply #5 March 27, 2007 6:02:57 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I don't know what I have to offer for something like this, but whatever I can, I'd be happy to.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
Uvah
Join Date 05/2006
+874
Reply #6 March 27, 2007 6:04:23 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Due to the limited amount of time I have,circumstances being what they are, online I can help in some fashion. Only problem...I don't know how I can help.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
TYCUS
Join Date 09/2004
+43
Reply #7 March 27, 2007 10:09:57 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
i'm ready to give out some good ideas for CursorXp!   
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
Erk.
Join Date 10/2003
+77
Reply #8 March 28, 2007 6:14:15 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
don't know what I have to offer for something like this, but whatever I can, I'd be happy to


Ditto for me.

Willing to help in any way I can.

Great idea, if the wiki is diligently updated.   
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
Sabardeyn
Join Date 03/2002
0
Reply #9 March 28, 2007 6:34:55 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I'm willing to try, from time to time, to help by contributing information or editing the work others have submitted. As all of us are learning here on the Internet, sometimes what is "heard" is not what was "said".

I must admit though that I am one of the "lost boys" when it comes to the Stardock products. I buy them (on and off) with the intent to be a creator but find, once again, that the lack of clear documentation and consistent, helpful support makes me abandon the effort. Mostly I have been a user.

I do have several sketches gathering dust of completely non-functional, but highly artistic (I hope) interface elements. Maybe if this effort succeeds I can put them together finally. (Note: These are "art for art's sake" skinning; not "functional for daily use" skinning.)
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
theAVMAN
Join Date 10/2006
+434
Reply #10 March 28, 2007 8:50:52 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I would be glad to help any way I can!!
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
ZubaZ
Join Date 11/2001
+917
Reply #11 March 28, 2007 2:22:59 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I think that two things are critical to the success of a Stardock application wiki to be THE source of documentation.

  1. User verification
    Editors should be WC subscribers and should have to use their WC credentials to edit
    There should be a way to see history of user actions (approved, rejected articles
  2. Certified editors
    All articles should be uncertified until a Certified editor approves them
    Certified editors should be promoted from the general pool after [x] number of certified articles submitted
These two things should prevent article vandalism and allow some accounting.

The wiki should have a setting to show beta (unapproved) articles or certified.
The Stardock devs need to be active in the authoring and approving of articles

Oh one mnore thing . . I should not have to worry about spelling.

Take a look at http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Main_Page, they have the above features and it seems to be working ok.

What makes us different?

We're glad to have you here and hope you'll join our friendly little (but growing!) community as an active contributor. What makes us different?

Well, for one thing, we're contributing under our own real names. We take responsibility for our own work, and we like to think we're a lot more civil than your average Internet community. If you didn't take our real names policy seriously, you've made a mistake, because we will permanently ban you from the website if we discover that you are using an unapproved pseudonym. To apply for a pseudonym, please ask the constabulary. Note, we don't permit pseudonyms on privacy grounds that apply to everyone.

For another thing, there are editors working right alongside authors. Editors can make decisions about articles in their areas of expertise, but for the most part, we collaborate just as folks do on Wikipedia--only, perhaps, with more collegiality. Editors also have a special task here that doesn't exist on Wikipedia: they can approve articles in their areas of expertise.



Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
dragonmage
Join Date 07/2001
+2
Reply #12 March 28, 2007 5:37:43 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
helping grow the wiki as the definitive resource for all information skinning


This means for all skinnable apps right? Not just Stardock apps? If so I could help with a few non-stardock apps.

Is this also going to be a "History of Skinning" record? A catalog of all skinnable apps past and present? A record of "Trends in Skinning" through cooperation with other skin sites a display of the frequency of skin releases over time, as well as the frequency of "new skinners". etc...

Just trying to see where this thing might be going...

Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
JeremyG
Join Date 03/2001
+8
Reply #13 March 28, 2007 5:40:04 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I think some things would be far too complicated, even for a wiki. It would turn into a monster very quickly. Imagine how big the DesktopX section would get when it comes to writing code....parsing HTML...etc etc

If you do create one it should be a very limited set of publishers to begin with.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
Bebi Bulma
Join Date 04/2004
+209
Reply #14 March 28, 2007 6:12:03 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
^What he said, agreed.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
Corky_O
Join Date 04/2004
0
Reply #15 March 29, 2007 12:42:04 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I would be willing to update (or re-create) my mini tutorials once the main product I focused on (ObjectDock Plus) is finalized

Never mind, Island Dog has already written one.

Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
Zoomba
Quentin94
Join Date 08/2006
+119
Reply #16 March 29, 2007 4:02:17 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
if i can i help! if i can make moreover i make it! that's all.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
View all recent posts
Mark all posts as read Delete cookies created by the forum Return to Top
Stardock Forums v        Server Load Time:   Page Render Time:
Facebook Twitter YouTube Google+