Re: [pgsql-advocacy] PostgreSQL.org Design Proposal - Mailing list pgsql-www

Dave,

Thanks for the background.  I've been on this list for two months now
and have not seen this information - and you explain the needs well.

Some quick explanations, the easiest ones first:

I'm not pimping Mambo.  Currently it would not support what you need
anyway - it has just recently been integrated with ADOdb to support
postgres, and i18n hasn't had the time to get integrated with the new
core.

II am clearly offering to help (and not just complain), and wanting to
understand if my efforts would actually be used if I did.  I'm also
busy working on other FOSS projects, with significant time involved.
So if I spend the additional time away from my wife and kids then I
want to know it was worth it - that's not too much to ask, is it?

Again, I am not complaining, I am pointing out some pretty alarming
issues (even if my observations are/were incorrect).  Dave pointing
out several things has made a much bigger impact on my opinion than
petty insults and misguided sarcasm.  Yes, I've heard of PHP, if you
had been doing this (solely web application development, with either
php or python) for over a decade then I'm certain you would know me by
now...

My objection to a do-it-yourself approach is that anything beyond PEAR
and PHP is proprietary.  That means that you wrote it; and as such
then you have to support it, and you have to document it, and you have
to improve it, and you have to upgrade it to keep compatibility with
changes to HTML_QuickForm and DB and so on...  With a CMS, you'd
typically be using a finished system that had been developed by dozens
of people, with years of experience, with a lifespan that supports
itself (free upgrades).  Such a waste, IMHO.

I agree that mirroring is a huge problem, and anything less than the
heavyweight systems (Zope/Plone, for example) will have major issues.
Mirroring a dynamic site in general is a major issue, and switching to
a homegrown one just adds to the complexity and effort, no?

And I wasn't being rude IMHO, I've already picked on Dave for his
browsing preferences.  He says he has a huge monitor, but surfs the
web like he is on a Mac Plus.  Having a design that supports 800x600
to support the handicapped and comply with accessibility laws is great
in my book.  I just think Dave is being a weirdo for using such a
little browser window ;-) Sorry that wasn't so apparent in my previous
email.

So we are 95% there.  It definitely makes sense to get the new site up
before making any drastic changes, and give that approach time to
prove its mettle.  Knowing the amount of effort that has been
invested, and why things were done the way they were, I'm happy
helping where I can and not trying to change direction.  My intent was
never to disparage or discourage, just to clarify some things that are
not apparent to someone that has been lurking for the last two months.

-- Mitch