2nd RFD: comp.databases.berkeley-db

[Philip Greer]

                     REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)
             unmoderated group comp.databases.berkeley-db

This is a formal Request For Discussion (RFD) for the creation of a
world-wide unmoderated Usenet newsgroup comp.databases.berkeley-db.
This is not a Call for Votes (CFV); you cannot vote at this time.
Procedural details are below.

CHANGES from previous RFD:

* The rationale has been re-written to more aptly state the reasons
  why the group is needed by the berkeley-db user community.
* The charter has been re-written to be more specific, less vague and
  overall better defines what this group is for, as well as defines
  what is allowed, and not allowed within it.
* The distribution groups have been updated to include those where it
  has been found to have had frequent past berkeley-db discussions.

Newsgroup line:
comp.databases.berkeley-db	Berkeley database and related topics.

RATIONALE: comp.databases.berkeley-db

There is not a specific Usenet location for discussions on berkeley
database management software (from this point forward I'll refer to as
just 'berkeley-db'). Discussion pertaining to the library occurs on
many other other Usenet forums. Often writings are specific to
berkeley-db itself and does not pertain to the subject matter of the
group the discussion falls within. Not only would a berkeley-db
specific forum provide a central location for todays frequent Usenet
users, it would also provide an on-line research tool for those
seeking on-line issue assistance with the library. Entities such as
Google will provide archives of group postings, and search tools for
those seeking answers to berkeley-db questions - drawing those on-line
that were not aware of the Usenet group (or of net news as a whole).

>From the "Berkeley DB Reference Guide: Introduction": '[berkeley-db]
runs under almost all UNIX and Linux variants, Windows, and a number
of embedded real-time operating systems. It runs on both 32-bit and
64-bit systems. It has been deployed on high-end Internet servers,
desktop machines, and on palmtop computers, set-top boxes, in network
switches, and elsewhere.' As well, berkeley-db has been a tool
available to the programming community for over ten years and
is used on a global scale with over 200 million installations. The
need for an on-line, central location for community discussions has
been long standing. Usenet is the best tool to fulfill this need and
allows addressing this need on a global scale.

CHARTER: comp.databases.berkeley-db

The newsgroup comp.databases.berkeley-db is a news forum devoted to
the discussion of the berkeley database management library. Discussion
entails, but is not limited to: its usage in all programming languages
that can utilize it, bugs, patches, tricks, techniques, support,
announcements; all in a free and open atmosphere.

All postings should be in ordinary text format only. Postings of
binaries (or encoding thereof) is highly discouraged. Cross-posting of
articles irrelevant to the berkeley database library is also
discouraged. The berkeley-db newsgroup is not moderated. Therefore it
is up to the global user base to police its usage.

END CHARTER.

PROCEDURE:

This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes.  In this phase
of the process, any potential problems with the proposed newsgroups
should be raised and resolved.  The discussion period will continue
for a minimum of 21 days (starting from when the first RFD for this
proposal is posted to news.announce.newgroups), after which a Call For
Votes (CFV) may be posted by a neutral vote taker if the discussion
warrants it.  Please do not attempt to vote until this happens.

All discussion of this proposal should be posted to news.groups.

This RFD attempts to comply fully with the Usenet newsgroup creation
guidelines outlined in "How to Create a New Usenet Newsgroup" and "How
to Format and Submit a New Group Proposal".  Please refer to these
documents (available in news.announce.newgroups) if you have any
questions about the process.

DISTRIBUTION:

This RFD has been posted to the following newsgroups:

news.groups, news.announce.newgroups, comp.databases, comp.lang.python,
comp.lang.perl.misc

Pointers will be posted to the following newsgroups:

comp.lang.perl.modules, comp.mail.sendmail, comp.mail.imap,
alt.perl, comp.unix.programmer, comp.lang.java.databases

Pointers will also be sent to the following gatewayed mailing lists:

mailing.database.mysql, mailing.postfix.users, mailing.freebsd.questions

Proponent: Philip Greer <philip at tildesoftware.com>
Proponent: Dave Segleau <dave at sleepycat.com>