by REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)
comp.os.linux reorganization
Summary: An extensive reorganization of the comp.os.linux hierarchy is
proposed. It includes the creation of five unmoderated
groups, the renaming of three unmoderated groups, and the
creation of one moderated group.
History: This proposed reorganization was prompted originally by the
excessive level of traffic in comp.os.linux.help. Following
a straw poll conducted by the proponent, an RFD was posted
for breaking comp.os.linux.help into various subgroups and
creating comp.os.linux.answers for separating the
documentation and announcements currently posted to
comp.os.linux.announce. During the discussion period, it
became evident that it would be preferable to create the
groups directly under comp.os.linux, rather than splitting
comp.os.linux.help. The previous RFD reflected that change.
This revision of the RFD incorporates several other changes
resulting from the previous 11 days of discussion.
1) Create group: comp.os.linux.advocacy (unmoderated)
Charter: For discussion of the benefits of Linux compared to other
operating systems.
2) Create group: comp.os.linux.answers (moderated)
Charter: For posting Linux FAQs, How-To's, READMEs and other
documents that answer questions about Linux. This will
help keep the traffic down in other c.o.l.* groups and will
leave comp.os.linux.announce for true announcements.
C.o.l.answers will be moderated by Matt Welsh
3) Create group: comp.os.linux.development.apps (unmoderated)
Charter: For questions and discussion regarding the writing of
applications for Linux and the porting of applications to
Linux.
4) Create group: comp.os.linux.hardware (unmoderated)
Charter: For questions and discussion specific to a particular piece
of hardware, e.g., "can this system run Linux?", "how do I
use this disk drive with Linux?", etc.
5) Create group: comp.os.linux.networking (unmoderated)
Charter: For questions and discussion relating to networking or
communications including Ethernet boards, serial
communications, SLIP, etc.
6) Create group: comp.os.linux.x (unmoderated)
Charter: For questions and discussion relating to X Window System,
version 11, compatible software including servers, clients,
libraries, and fonts, running under Linux. XFree86 issues
not unique to Linux will be directed to
comp.windows.x.i386unix.
7) Rename group: comp.os.linux.development (unmoderated)
to: comp.os.linux.development.system (unmoderated)
Charter: For questions and discussion regarding the development of
the Linux operating system proper: kernel, device drivers,
loadable modules.
8) Rename group: comp.os.linux.admin (unmoderated)
to: comp.os.linux.setup (unmoderated)
Charter: For questions and discussion relating to Linux installation
and system administration.
Rationale: "setup" is clearer than "admin", and is a more obvious
place for installation questions.
9) Rename group: comp.os.linux.help (unmoderated)
to: comp.os.linux.misc (unmoderated)
Rationale: Comp.os.linux.help is too general. It currently overlaps
comp.os.linux.admin, and if the proposed groups are
created, will overlap comp.os.linux.hardware and
comp.os.linux.networking as well as comp.os.linux.setup.
Note: The intent here is actually to remove comp.os.linux.help,
not to rename it to .misc, which already exists.
Unfortunately, it's not possible to remove it directly.
Comp.os.linux Reorganization Roadmap
Current Hierarchy Proposed Hierarchy
c.o.l.advocacy
c.o.l.announce c.o.l.announce
c.o.l.answers
c.o.l.development c.o.l.development.system
c.o.l.development.apps
c.o.l.help
c.o.l.hardware
c.o.l.misc c.o.l.misc
c.o.l.networking
c.o.l.admin c.o.l.setup
c.o.l.x
After a discussion period of 21-30 days, if there are not overwhelming
objections to any of the proposed groups, there will be a Call For
Votes (CFV) posted to the groups as this RFD. The voting period will
be at least 21 days. Each proposal that passes, by receiving 100 more
YES votes than NO votes and twice as many YES votes as NO votes,
will be implemented.