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DoWire technology

From DoWire Wiki

The DoWire technology set-up consists of a number of semi-integrated open source components. It uses an adapted "Kubrick" design template across these platforms.

Current components include:

Mentormate is the provider used for DoWire's technology support.

Technology "to do" priorities:


  • Wiki - DONE - Recently required account to login (NOW OPEN AGAIN). Need to explore upgrading from version 1.3 to 1.5 of MediaWiki when it has a stable release.
    • NEW - 1.5 formatting issues sometimes ... search box shows up on right in IE6, history list messed up with new top listings misplaced
    • Fix ?phpsessid=*** problem - Sometimes inserted at end of wiki URLs which then links to non-existent pages
    • DONE - Activate wiki search/go to page - doesn't work currently
    • Once upgraded, evaluate and install extensions such as, Bad Behavior (DONE)(as long as it doesn't stop search engines) and other Anti-spam features, Bread Crumbs, RSS display
    • Wait on these: Comment Form, Permissions
    • NOT REQUIRED - Enotif - May NOT need to be installed because newer version of mediawiki has e-mail features.
    • These plug-ins may also be installed on E-Democracy.Org's wiki. But only do this if I ask.


  • Blog - Wordpress is now on version 1.5.X. We need to upgrade from 1.2. It looks like efforts for 1.6 are just developing. Once install, I will evaluate a number of plug-ins for possible install, including.

TO DO

    • Technorati - Need to evaluate a technorati plug-in to insert proper keywords or a tool like UTW or others like the simple WPCatt (INSTALLED, USING FOR NOW) tool.
    • Google Adsense
    • MM INSTALL - Print version - We will want to keep this feature (not sure if it is a plugin in 1.2) - also I think the updated wiki will add a print view for wiki pages.
    • Auto-linked URLs tweak - Can we make long urls scroll to two lined? If URL is longer than space allowed, sidebar gets push to bottom of post.
    • MM INSTALL - Spam prevention - I'll continue to moderate blog comments unless anti-spam tools in 1.5 are better. It looks like the Bad Behavior tool suggested under the wiki, helps with WordPress.
    • MM TO DO - Archive Conversion to Blog - Need a script to convert Do-Wire listserv posts from Listserv digests to blog posts. This will result in a couple thousand blog posts. Second phase thought - It would be nice to have a catch page on external links from blog posts older than a year that says, old links may be bad, if so try Google Cache, Google search on link terms, or WayBack Machine ... if link goes to something bad, tell us. Because I share lots of e-mails, we need to make them less spambot accessible - here is a - Installed and Activated (Not sure if it works)- http://www.coffee2code.com/archives/2005/03/24/plugin-obfuscate-e-mail/ obfuscate tool.]
    • Need archive navigation tools:
    • INSTALLED - needs MM tweaking? -Translation - Worth a try ...
    • Podcasting - I plan to mix in audio and video into my blog. My "Front Porch" will be for e-democracy interviews with guests on my front porch and monthly Flash-based website video/audio tours will also be shared. I need the right tools to integrate podcasting into my site. One tool for web-based play back is Automatic Music Player (DO NOT INSTALL - MORE FOR MUSIC?). We need a simple Flash-based MP3 player that we install to play the audio in posts - XSPF - not sure if it can be used in posts versus the sidebar) or sid-mp3-player - which seems to integrate or FlvPlayer which will also play Flash video files and MP3s which I might use with my "web movie" tours. This iTunes tool - MM INSTALL - needs to be investigated. Folks at AudioActivism have agreed to provide me some extensive podcasting start-up advice. One problem with an embedded player is that if you leave the page the audio stops ...
    • MM INSTALL -Spell Checker - A must.
    • Tell a Friend - I will want a simple (and secure) plug-in that will allow blog visitor to e-mail a friend the text and link to a blog post.
    • SKIP - Subscribe to Comments - Worth a try to promote blog-based commenting ... may attempt to shift discussion into DoWire Discuss forum on GroupServer instead ... not sure.
    • MM INSTALL - Search Engine Optimize - Something to tweak later on. Here is the WordPress article on the topic. Need to figure out value of SEO in the link names, I like the nice a short URLs for posts.
  • MM INSTALL -Print version
  • MM INSTALL - Mail post to a friend
  • MM FIX -Post2Mail - For use with full text Newswire e-mail option perhaps - See notes way at bottom
  • Breadcrumbs - maybe
  • MM INSTALL - Google Site Map producer
  • Page Titles - I'd like the title of the permanent post to be listed before the all the DoWire/Clift's Note mumbo jumbo


MAYBE LATER



DONE

    • DONE - Kubrick Update? - We should adapt our theme to 1.5. Versus this Keeping the using our 1.2 theme.
    • DONE - Ignore 1.2 existing plug-ins for know - Once 1.5 is installed, we will start over with plug-ins designed for 1.5.
    • DONE - Popularity Contest - Will allow me to share quick access to popular posts
    • DONE - Kramer - Will find links to my blog posts from other blogs and add links back to them in the side bar of my blog
    • DONE - RSSInclusion - This will allow me to display RSS results within blog posts. "Living" posts in a sense.
    • DONE - Auto-linking written URLs - Not sure if this script works in 1.5.
    • DONE - Need to test -Photopress - I plan to start sharing more pictures from my speaking trips.
    • DONE - Attaching Files would be useful if authors give me permissions to share files.
    • DONE - Subscribe me is a simple plug-in that will make it easier for folks to subscribe to the full DoWire blog feed
    • DONE with Postie - Need to test - Post via E-mail - I'll want to keep this feature from the 1.2 plug-in. I am curious how hard line returns are dealt with when incoming e-mail is formatted to a blog post.

Related Notes: E-mail post with pics - Perhaps I can blog with my pocketpc camera. This one looks better?

DONE - * Wp-Shortstat - for the dashboard - DEACTIVATE - slowed blog response time significantly


  • Mobile - I'd like to create a simple mobile start page that picks up on PDA browsers and takes them to a simple start page. It would replace the graphical top banner with a few simple links and leave the navigation links at the bottom of the page. I'll create a wiki page with links across the site for mobile users. This WP 1.2 mobile tool (DONE) could be used with the blog.
  • Chat - The CGI:IRC tool allowed us to connect non-chatters with folks using their own IRC client during the Int'l Symposium webcast until Freenode decided that all the hits from DoWire.Org to the #e-democracy channel indicated an attack of some sort. We need to figure out how to make Freenode like us or find an IRC service which works with this important web-based tool. (Many government folks are not allowed to install new software on their computers like an IRC client).
  • Accessibility - I received a complaint about the use of Javascript in the top navigation image. I want to understand alternative options or at least create a hidden link for Lynx users that would allow folks to jump to bottom navigation options. Also, I need to check the site on Lynx/with images turned off to make sure all elements and alt= items are described.
  • Home Page - Upgrade JSFeed and Magpie. Then move newindex.php to replace static HTML page. I will want to back up the current index.html and will bring some of the static text from that page into the dynamic home page and distribute background text to wiki pages.
  • Forms - Create new forms for submission of specialized content to DoWire.
    • Add navigation banner to form pages or at least minimal site look and feel.
    • Forms I might create include announcements for:
      • Articles with abstracts
      • Reports with summary text
      • Conferences and events
      • Books, book reviews
      • Project announcements (press releases)
      • Research queries
  • Calendar - Future idea - Use wiki or blog plug-in or a site like Upcoming.Org to allow site users to enter and interact with an event calendar. The calendar would include live webcast listings as well as in-person events.


Non-Mentormate Items

  • Groups - Work with Dan Randow and Tim Erickson to prepare groups at http:///forums.dowire.org for transfer from YahooGroups. Groups to move first include:
    • Do-Consult
    • Do-Research
    • Do-Parliaments
    • Phase Two: Do-Asia, Do-Code, Do-CampNet, Do-Eu, Do-UK
  • Create new groups/placeholder groups like e-government, m-government, democracy, etc.
  • Once Do-Wire listserv users are moved to phplist, ask users to set their country. Turn-off other country lists.


  • E-Alerts and RSS - Generate full text RSS with links embedded such that e-mailed versions of the RSS feeds via GroupServer (no longer phplist) work.
    • NOTE: Exploring use of GroupServer to deliver e-mail alerts. Would implement this item with New Zealand partners.
    • Right MM is experimenting with Post2Mail and the Email Notification plug-ins.
    • This short cut will allow us to e-mail posts via current U of M listserv as well as GroupServer once membership is transferred.

OLD

    • Upgrade to 2.10.X
    • Create special RSS feeds from WordPress for all offered e-alert options
    • Remove option to receive notification of recent wiki changes via phplist (keep new pages option). This is overkill. Registered wiki users will be able to create a watch list and with the mediawiki enotif plug-in monitor pages.
    • Customize text-only e-mail display options for full text options
    • Explore embedding links in text verse requiring people to come to DoWire blog post for links
    • Ensure that "DoWire" full-text tagged blog posts go out immediately to phplist members via the RSS option (verse being sent once a day)
    • Set up other full blog full text and other digest feeds for daily phplist release early morning in U.S. perhaps - need to explore options
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