Difference between revisions of "Free Software Directory:Participate"

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<div style="content: '.';visibility: hidden;display: block;height: 0;clear: both;"></div>
  
== Approval System ==
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Anybody can update or submit new entries to the directory. Please review the [[Free_Software_Directory:Requirements|Requirements]].
  
Anybody can create an account and update or submit new entries to the Directory. Please review the [[Free_Software_Directory:Requirements|Requirements]]. However, updates and new submissions need approval by an administrator before they will appear publicly. Logged-in users can tell if they are seeing the latest version of the page, or if there are newer versions of the page waiting for approval by a message at the top of the page.  
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To edit, you must register first. If you don't already have a [https://directory.fsf.org/wiki?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Main+Page&type=signup|Free Software Foundation Central Login] ([https://my.fsf.org/join member] or [https://my.fsf.org/user/register non-member]) you need to create one: It is mandatory to allow this wiki software to allow you to edit on it.
  
* Not the latest version message: ''This is the approved revision of this page; it is not the most recent. View the most recent revision.''
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We talk about three things here -- how to submit, update, and delete entries.  
 
 
* Latest version message: ''This is the approved revision of this page, as well as being the most recent.''
 
 
 
You can see a [[Special:ApprovedRevs|list of approved pages or pages waiting for approval]].
 
 
 
== How to fill the fields in an entry ==
 
 
 
Each entry for a package in the Directory has information structured in quite a number of fields, some of which are obvious, some less so. Please check out the [[Free_Software_Directory:Workflow/Entry|documentation for an entry]], to assist you with relevant information on the requirements, meaning, or expectations for the content.
 
  
 
== Submit new entries ==
 
== Submit new entries ==
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To submit a new entry to the directory:
 
To submit a new entry to the directory:
 
   
 
   
# [http://directory.fsf.org/wiki?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Main_Page Login to the directory].
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# [[Special:UserLogin|Login to the directory]].
# Head to our [[Form:Entry|entry page]].
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# Head to our '''[[Form:Entry|'Submit a new entry' page]]'''. (Also linked in the sidebar.)
 
# Enter the name of the package or software program.
 
# Enter the name of the package or software program.
# You will be brought to a multi-part form -- don't panic! Only the first few fields are required.  
+
# You will be brought to a multi-part form -- don't panic! Only the first few fields are required. ([[Free_Software_Directory:Workflow/Entry|Form documentation]] helps you to complete the form, but it can also be completed by another volunteer or by the reviewer.)
 
# The final step is to go to the last tab and press the '''save button''' at the bottom.  
 
# The final step is to go to the last tab and press the '''save button''' at the bottom.  
  
Please note that when you save, your submission won't appear. '''Don't Panic!''' The reason it is not appearing is because it has been marked as "unapproved". After our team has reviewed your submission thoroughly, completed adding as much data as possible, and ensured it meets all of our guidelines, your submission will be published on the Directory. Until approved you can review or improve your submission by editing it as outlined below.
+
Please note that when you save, your submission won't appear. '''Don't Panic!''' The reason it is not appearing is because updates
 +
and new submissions need approval by an administrator before they will
 +
appear publicly. Logged-in users can tell if they are seeing the latest
 +
version of the page, or if there are newer versions of the page waiting
 +
for approval by a message at the top of the page.
 +
* Not the latest version message: ''This is the approved revision of this page; it is not the most recent. View the most recent revision.''
 +
* Latest version message: ''This is the approved revision of this page, as well as being the most recent.''
 +
 
 +
Until approved you can review or improve your submission by editing it  
 +
as outlined below.
  
 
== Update an entry ==
 
== Update an entry ==
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To update an entry:  
 
To update an entry:  
  
# [http://directory.fsf.org/wiki?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Main_Page Login to the directory].
+
# [[Special:UserLogin|Login to the directory]].
 
# Click "Edit With Form" at the top of the page you'd like to update.  
 
# Click "Edit With Form" at the top of the page you'd like to update.  
  
When you update an entry, you edit the latest version of the page, approved or not.
+
When you update an entry, you edit the latest version of the page,  
 +
approved or not.
 +
 
 +
To find entries that haven't been updated in a while, check the [[Free Software Directory:Participate/oldies]] page and [[Free Software Directory:Broken links]]. You can also see a [[Special:ApprovedRevs|list of approved pages or pages waiting for approval]]. They are often added by people who are new and do not complete the form fully. Please correct and expand these entries to help the reviewers and reduce the review queues!
 +
 
 +
== Guidelines for choosing Version Status of an entry ==
 +
 
 +
* Stable: If it has a release and no indication of the type, choose stable.
 +
* Historical means no longer works on any currently supported free software distribution. Since that is hard to determine, some hints are:
 +
** The last release or source code change is probably older than 2007.
 +
** It's not being maintained by Debian (it's not a [https://packages.debian.org/wheezy/allpackages package in wheezy]).
 +
** If you are using a Gnu/Linux distro, it doesn't compile or run for you.
 +
You can always revive historical free software to run again.
 +
 
 +
== Delete an entry ==
 +
 
 +
If a submission doesn't meet criteria for inclusion in the directory,
 +
it can be proposed for deletion, and deleted by an administrator from the drop-down menu.
 +
To propose an entry for deletion, edit it's description to start with:
 +
 
 +
<nowiki>[[Category:Candidates for deletion]]</nowiki>
 +
This is a candidate for deletion: (describe why here) <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>
 +
 
 +
Then it will show up in [[:Category:Candidates for deletion]].
 +
 
 +
Please always state "Other/additional reason:" when you delete entries, because
 +
when a page is deleted, it will show up in [[Special:Log/delete|the deletion log]] with a stated reason
 +
for its rejection, so users trying to submit a project can know how to
 +
correct any errors (if possible). Preserve Talk pages when approriate (eg for malware like [[Talk:IceCat/Web_of_Trust_-_WOT]]).
 +
 
 +
Check on [https://archive.org archive.org] if a package's homepage is gone.
 +
 
 +
When an entry is deleted, also search for references to it by other
 +
entries. For example, it may be listed as a "related project" for some
 +
other entries. These references need to be edited out manually; deleting
 +
an entry does not automatically remove them. The
 +
[[Special:WhatLinksHere|What links here]] tool comes handy when hunting
 +
down the links.
 +
 
 +
If the package is a particularly popular or well-known proprietary
 +
package, it might make more sense to have the page redirect to free
 +
alternatives already listed on the directory. That way, if a person
 +
searches the directory for the proprietary program, they can be directed
 +
to free equivalents.
 +
 
 +
== Extra ==
 +
 
 +
You can join the '''[http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/directory-discuss directory-discuss list]''' or join us each week for the '''Friday Free Software Directory IRC meeting'''! For details and time (and how to figure it out in your time zone), check the [[Main_Page|main page]].
  
== Deleting an entry ==
+
These tools are auxiliary, they do not replace this guide or the requirements.
  
If a submission doesn't meet criteria for inclusion in the directory, the entry can be deleted by an administrator from the drop-down menu. When an entry is deleted, also search for references to it by other entries. For example, it may be listed as a "related project" for some other entries. These references need to be edited out manually; deleting an entry does not automatically remove them. The [[Special:WhatLinksHere|What links here]] tool comes handy when hunting down the links.
+
* Check out the [[Free Software Directory:Participate/Script aid | script aid]] made by [[User:Adfeno|Adfeno]].
 +
* [[Free Software Directory:Participate/Using pywikibot | Using pywikibot]] to work with entries in the directory.
 +
* [[Special:Version]] - Useful for MediaWiki, and Semantic Forms, and so on, when you need to evaluate version specific syntax.
 +
* If you are an administrator looking for directions, check out the [[FSD:Workflow|workflow page]].''
  
If the package is a particularly popular or well-known proprietary package, it might make more sense to have the page redirect to free alternativees already listed on the directory. That way, if a person searches the directory for the proprietary program, they can be directed to free equivalents.
 
  
== Help us maintain and improve the Directory ==
+
<!-- Move this to the Free_Software_Directory:Workflow/Entry ?
 +
== Guidelines for choosing Version Status of an entry ==
 +
* Stable: If it has a release and no indication of the type, choose stable.
 +
* Historical means no longer works on any currently supported free software distribution. Since that is hard to determine, some hints are:
 +
** The last release or source code change is probably older than 2007.
 +
** It's not being maintained by Debian (it's not a [https://packages.debian.org/wheezy/allpackages package in wheezy]).
 +
** If you are using a Gnu/Linux distro, it doesn't compile or run for you.
 +
You can always revive historical free software to run again. -->
  
Want to join others in the community and help curate and build the Free Software Directory? Join the [http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/directory-discuss directory-discuss list] and send an email asking us how you can help!
+
== Outreach ==
  
If you are an administrator looking for directions, check out the [[FSD:Workflow|workflow page]].
+
* Tools for getting [[Free Software Directory:Participate/maintainers | maintainers]] involved.

Revision as of 15:58, 1 February 2017


Anybody can update or submit new entries to the directory. Please review the Requirements.

To edit, you must register first. If you don't already have a Software Foundation Central Login (member or non-member) you need to create one: It is mandatory to allow this wiki software to allow you to edit on it.

We talk about three things here -- how to submit, update, and delete entries.

Submit new entries

To submit a new entry to the directory:

  1. Login to the directory.
  2. Head to our 'Submit a new entry' page. (Also linked in the sidebar.)
  3. Enter the name of the package or software program.
  4. You will be brought to a multi-part form -- don't panic! Only the first few fields are required. (Form documentation helps you to complete the form, but it can also be completed by another volunteer or by the reviewer.)
  5. The final step is to go to the last tab and press the save button at the bottom.

Please note that when you save, your submission won't appear. Don't Panic! The reason it is not appearing is because updates and new submissions need approval by an administrator before they will appear publicly. Logged-in users can tell if they are seeing the latest version of the page, or if there are newer versions of the page waiting for approval by a message at the top of the page.

  • Not the latest version message: This is the approved revision of this page; it is not the most recent. View the most recent revision.
  • Latest version message: This is the approved revision of this page, as well as being the most recent.

Until approved you can review or improve your submission by editing it as outlined below.

Update an entry

To update an entry:

  1. Login to the directory.
  2. Click "Edit With Form" at the top of the page you'd like to update.

When you update an entry, you edit the latest version of the page, approved or not.

To find entries that haven't been updated in a while, check the Free Software Directory:Participate/oldies page and Free Software Directory:Broken links. You can also see a list of approved pages or pages waiting for approval. They are often added by people who are new and do not complete the form fully. Please correct and expand these entries to help the reviewers and reduce the review queues!

Guidelines for choosing Version Status of an entry

  • Stable: If it has a release and no indication of the type, choose stable.
  • Historical means no longer works on any currently supported free software distribution. Since that is hard to determine, some hints are:
    • The last release or source code change is probably older than 2007.
    • It's not being maintained by Debian (it's not a package in wheezy).
    • If you are using a Gnu/Linux distro, it doesn't compile or run for you.

You can always revive historical free software to run again.

Delete an entry

If a submission doesn't meet criteria for inclusion in the directory, it can be proposed for deletion, and deleted by an administrator from the drop-down menu. To propose an entry for deletion, edit it's description to start with:

[[Category:Candidates for deletion]] This is a candidate for deletion: (describe why here) ~~~~

Then it will show up in Category:Candidates for deletion.

Please always state "Other/additional reason:" when you delete entries, because when a page is deleted, it will show up in the deletion log with a stated reason for its rejection, so users trying to submit a project can know how to correct any errors (if possible). Preserve Talk pages when approriate (eg for malware like Talk:IceCat/Web_of_Trust_-_WOT).

Check on archive.org if a package's homepage is gone.

When an entry is deleted, also search for references to it by other entries. For example, it may be listed as a "related project" for some other entries. These references need to be edited out manually; deleting an entry does not automatically remove them. The What links here tool comes handy when hunting down the links.

If the package is a particularly popular or well-known proprietary package, it might make more sense to have the page redirect to free alternatives already listed on the directory. That way, if a person searches the directory for the proprietary program, they can be directed to free equivalents.

Extra

You can join the directory-discuss list or join us each week for the Friday Free Software Directory IRC meeting! For details and time (and how to figure it out in your time zone), check the main page.

These tools are auxiliary, they do not replace this guide or the requirements.


Outreach



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