[Python-Dev] PyPI comments and ratings, *really*?

[Jesse Noller]

On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 11:02 AM, Guido van Rossum <guido at python.org> wrote:

> If you were to ask me, the people arguing against ratings and user
> comments are fighting a losing battle. If they had an iPhone or
> Android phone (or some other device with an "app store" kind of place
> to find downloads) they'd know the value (for prospective downloaders)
> of ratings and comments. Now, I think PyPI can use some (perhaps a lot
> of) improvement in the details of how it works, e.g. there should be a
> way to flag inappropriate messages (and users who post many
> inappropriate messages) and the software author should be able to talk
> back, but the general idea is here and won't go away by wishing it
> away.
>
> --
> --Guido van Rossum (python.org/~guido)


I don't want us to impersonate the mindless, sub-useful drivel found
in App store/YouTube/etc comments 99% of the time or the broken "5
star ratings" systems, etc. It's too easy to game.

I'm not arguing something like this *shouldn't* exist; but that the
current implementation is a far cry from something actually *good and
useful*. If we want forums, let's put in forums. If we want a real
review system, then do that.

But before we even did those; why not have mandatory links for entries
to bug trackers, mailing lists, source repositories, etc? I'm saying
saying this doesn't seem well thought out, and the current
implementation is broken by design. Of course, as I said earlier;
since I don't have time to patch it; I'll simply just not participate.

jesse