[Zope-dev] Re: Zope.org, and thus Zope itself, is in trouble

[Martin Aspeli]

Hi Greg,

> I think Zope is in serious trouble and the Zope.org web site is badly  
> in need of attention.  I started using zope in 2001 at Xerox PARC and  
> the helpful and persuasive resources at zope.org were a major  
> factor.  Today, zope.org is full of dead links and it very hard to  
> use unless you are already experienced.  Consequently, getting  
> started with Zope today is harder now than is was, even though the  
> actual software is better.
> 
> A key factor is that based on the zope.org web site it is not  
> apparent whether the community is healthy or not, and the general  
> impression is that the project is stalled since so many links are  
> dead and defunct.  How can the decay in the key zope web site have  
> gotten so bad?  (In  fact I am not so sure myself of the zope  
> community health any longer, despite the ongoing zope postings here  
> --  I hope I will find I'm wrong in this regard at least).

I think this has something to do with what kind of people Zope and the 
Zope community attracts. They are not really web designers or graphics 
people or content gardeners.

> Also, let's not get distracted by Google and/or all the other places  
> to find zope stuff.  The fact is, Zope.org is the de facto primary  
> destination especially for newbies.  If it's in bad shape it directly  
> impacts Zope uptake and usage.

I couldn't agree more. The good news is that several people (who's 
opinion matters more than my own) also agree. Now that the Zope 
Foundation exists, there is a mandate and a bit more room to manoeuvre. 
No-one has a lot of spare time to devote to it, but it's moving up 
various people's to-do lists. The situation may not be as dire as it is 
now for too long.

Martin

-- 
Acquisition is a jealous mistress