[Foundation-l] My 10 wishes list for 2008

[Florence Devouard]

>> 3. Software development
>> I am pretty sure it is an evidence to anyone that our software
>> development is much behind, not because of a lack of great ideas, but
>> rather of human power.
>> I would like to see this year a system implemented to collect technical
>> wishlists from each project; outreach to developer open-source
>> communities; a well-outlined technical roadmap, with goals, resources
>> and deadlines. And yeah, results. It might be worth also seeing how the
>> Foundation could help on the tool server side.
> 
> This is the best news I have read all week! Really, really fantastic.
> No one has any complaints about the work our devs currently do, the
> only problem is the volume (or lack of it).
> 
> I would also like to see a dedicated MediaWiki development fund that
> people could choose to donate into rather than a general WMF fund. It
> is strange how entwined WMF/MW are when MW is extensively used outside
> WMF and WMF has no special dedication to only using MW.
> There are many large companies and businesses that use MW. It seems to
> me a lost opportunity if we don't give them the chance to donate to MW
> if they are not prepared to donate to WMF-all funds.
> 
> Using software that doesn't receive substantial ongoing improvement
> is, in the long term, potentially just as dangerous as some dramatic
> unwelcome act (like placing advertisements). While in the latter case
> the damage and loss would be fast, in the former, people and
> enthusiasm just slowly wear away... like rot.

Good idea.
Are you thinking though, to a fund handled by Wikimedia Foundation, or 
by another organization ? 'cause if funds are given to develop features 
on MW that are of no special interest to wikimedia projects, it might 
conflict with our mission.
Other than that, I certainly believe restricted donations are a good 
idea to consider in the future.

>> 7. Chapters and general assembly
>> The relationship between chapters and Wikimedia Foundation has improved
>> over the past year. There are now guidelines for creation, some chapters
>> have received the permission to use trademarks within certain limits,
>> several chapters were created etc....
>>
>> However, it is still not sufficient. My wishlist is that further work be
>> done to clarify relationships and lines of authority, and that a meeting
>> be held annually with the chapters. I had hoped this assembly would
>> occur in winter 2007, but this was delayed. I would like the board to
>> agree to a meeting with wmf and chapters in spring 2008.
> 
> I had an idea that there was going to be some sort of consultation
> thing with the chapters (and potential chapters) about what they saw
> as their role and relationship to WMF? Did that happen or is it still
> planned?

The form has been finalized and handed out to the chapters. All chapters 
have answered. Pat did a great job to aggregate results. Results have 
been looked at by Sue, Delphine, Frieda, JB, Arne, et al in early 
december, in Frankfurt.
I am not sure if aggregated results have been posted yet, but at least 
some of the raw forms are on internal.
No precise steps have been formulated yet in answer to the consultation. 
I expect it needs to be part of the action plan to be formulated for 
february.

Thanks Brianna

Ant