Use of the mailing list during the application period
Hi!
First, let me thank you all for your applications. I was a little worried when were approved as an org ourselves, but we've got a bunch of good ideas and nicely done applications here, so we aren't going to have trouble filling our slots, I think.
Second, I don't necessarily speak for the other mentors, but I have a reasonably good track record in channeling Barry and Mark and Terri at least. So judge for yourself if my "rules of the list" make sense for you.
Now, to the main topic. As I see it, you should use the mailing lists:
*Before* you have filed an application at all. (However, at this point I would suggest filing *something*. Remember, we can't accept any student who is unknown to Melange no matter how much he or she contributes on the list. We will make the decision based on what's on Melange at the deadline, and you can edit until then.)
If Melange is unavailable.
For asking about requirements. What is it that Mailman doesn't do that it should? What do subscribers, moderators, list owners and site admins want it to do? What does it do that is annoying and should stop, or should be optional? Of course your opinions are relevant, but in the end if you're the only user, you can fork and be happy. So the lists are where you'll get opinions from real users, and know what will benefit the whole community.
For communicating with others about parts of Mailman *not* directly related to your project, such as installation, testing, use of the VCS, how to write schedules, etc.
To poke the mentors when they really seem to be asleep (no activity for 36-48 hours).
(Maybe) To announce that your initial proposal has been posted. But see #1 under "should not".
To announce "important" updates to your *blog* that may be of general interest. For example, you could post your proposal there for non-mentors to see (I don't necessarily recommend that, see #2 below).
You should *not* use the mailing lists, but rather use Melange:
To announce updates to your proposal. Mentors will get pings from Melange about changes to your proposal, and should be looking frequently anyway. Other participants in the mailing list have no need to know and probably don't care to know. And I'm really busy and getting a ton of mail right now, and so are several other mentors. There's a good chance that anything on the list will get dropped on the floor if I don't address it right away. I will be looking at all Mailman proposals (as well as some PSF and Systers proposals) daily in any case.
To ask about design and scheduling issues. There are two reasons for this. First, most of you are concentrated on two or three projects, and so are competing with each other. Personally, I give extra points to people who openly discuss their ideas in the spirit of "may the best proposal win", but realistically, you may not want to depend on that, and keep your proposal between you and the mentors until acceptance decisions are made.
Second, this is the same division of responsibility as between MLs and issue trackers. If you post to the ML and a mentor replies there, both the question and the answer stand a fair chance of getting dropped on the floor and not helping to improve your proposal. If the Q & A take place in comments on the proposal, or even in the proposal itself, points that didn't get addressed early on will be right there for your later review, etc.
Hope this helps.
Steve
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Stephen J. Turnbull