Resources, Blogs, and TDN Ohh My

#1 I think the issue is blogs are viewable by everyone, even those without TDN or TGE access

Now GG doesn't like people posting their script language or code anywhere freely available to the general net.

This means we can't really post script or C++ code on the public forms here, the blogs provided here, our OWN blogs (if we have them) or any other public forum or mechanism

The word "resource" is a little confusing I'll admit, but once you think of the GG blogs being open to everyone on the net, you just need to limit your posts there the same way you'd limit your posts on the public forums

As to *WHERE* we post interesting snippets of code I haven't the foggiest idea. I've posted a teeny tiny pointer on IF statements on the forums here, but I've seen other people mentioned getting their "resources" approved, but what these "resources" are (I guess the wiki?) and where you post them (?) and how you get them approved (???) I couldn't say

#2 I was also confused by the whole "blogs are resources too" idea at first. In any case, if it's something small and useful you can probably just post it in the forums, but if there are lots of files and/or source patches a resource is much better. I think like Chris says the main reason for keeping code out of blogs is to keep certain info from people who maybe shouldn't have access to it. If you click on "Community->Resources" from the yellow menu above, you'll see a Submit link on the upper right on that page.

You can jump to the main submission page here:
www.garagegames.com/index.php?sec=mg&mod=resource&page=overview

#3 I know how to add those, but the last two times I tried to add a "code" resource, they never showed up anywhere, so I got frustrated with that route, and the community lost my "Implementing Wheel Mouse Zooms". The blog ones worked and I could see that I posted them, and they are also called resources, so thats where I started placing them. I have several tutorials I have already posted to TDN, but something like this didn't need to be there, I personally dont like large code snippets in the forums, and felt its better to place them in my own personal space until I received nasty grams saying thats not where to put things.

So if I post them where I'm supposed to , they never show up, or I post them to TDN where they probably dont fit in (and are difficult to get organized), or I pollute the forum pages themselves. Fine I can do that, but as an example my Package example post, was a 700 line snippet... not so reasonable for a forum post... and TDN is a joke when it comes to structure of the edits. So what I'm being told is, spend alot of time trying to help the community, then spend even more time trying to follow our limiting rules in code sharing, then spend even more time, reformatting everything to match our TDN template overlays.. it really kills the spirit of having an open community, In my opinion. I just want to help out..

#4 I agree that the Code Resource isn't all that good (After Joe pointed it out, I realised that I had seen it and knew what it was, but most of the resources that I tried last time pointed to broken links. Many resources pre-2005 pointing offline are dead)

The Code Resource also seems to be peer reviewed to some extent? Understandable, the resources seem to indicate a GG "stamp of approval" (To a point)
A rather large amount of work is also needed to review all those resources I imagine and it seems to delay the release of the resources by a considerable time, reducing their usefulness further (This isn't the first post I've seen from someone saying their posted resource never turned up)

There doesn't seem to be a good channel currently for something like your mini map post. Too large for forums, too secret for blogs, may or may not ever be posted in the resources

Perhaps some sort of private blog? Maybe something like a flag on the current blog system "viewable by TGB/TGE users only" would be pretty good I think

However, let me be the first to plead for you not to give up :) I thank you for your blog (regardless of where it was posted) and I am using that code right now in my project! (and I mean now, just firing up Codeweaver!)

#5 Resources are "approved" by a moderator, so there is usually a delay of anywhere from a day or two to a week or two. Usually though (unless its during busy times) resources tend to be approved within a week of been posted.

If you have a great resource, then you can always post a blog about it explaining what it is, what it does, screenshots/movies etc but no source, just provide a link to your resource. Even if the resource hasn't yet been approved the link.

I don't think there is a need for private blogs. GG Blogs arn't imo all that suitable a place for posting code (eula withstanding), I'd much rather see people post a resource if its a good block of code, or make a running forum thread for work-in-progress, then blog about it with screenies to bring it to peoples attention.

TDN isn't that hard to get used to, people just need to take a little care to keep the format consistant, which isn't that difficult if you copy and existing post and use that as a basis. That said, I think TDN is more suited for complete articles/tutorials that deal with a given topic in good depth. Where as short snippets or the "do this, add this here, do this then this and apply this" style posts would be more suitable for resources.

Just imho.

#6

Quote:If you have a great resource, then you can always post a blog about it explaining what it is, what it does, screenshots/movies etc but no source, just provide a link to your resource. Even if the resource hasn't yet been approved the link.

I was unaware you could link the resource even if it wasn't approved. That makes a lot of difference and as you said a link via your blog would be quite sufficient

I doubt most people posting their first resource would know of this workaround but it seems it would work well

#7 Personally, I would like to see things like a sample mini map added to TDN. The TGB hub is set up quite nicely, it could go in general tutorials in TGB Scripting or perhaps in TGB Customization under Other Resources.

Yes, it does take a bit more work to get it in a nice format but it's not really that much effort - just open up an existing tutorial or guide, click on edit, and copy the template or heading formatting and paste it in your new page, replace any existing text with yours.

The reason I like TDN is because I find it so much easier to find information there. I know the GG site is set up with Google search, I use it now and then, but for whatever reason searching the forums for specific things can be hit or miss. There have been plently of times I know I've read months ago a forum post about a particular topic but I can't figure out the right keywords to get it to appear in the results list.

Worst case, you could create a page with the script in it and a note asking the community to help with the write up to make it "like a tutorial or guide" and when it's in good shape someone can link it inside the one of the hub pages. I think short "do this do that" articles are also good for TDN, they just have to be properly catagorized and sectioned off from the deep diving tutorials.

#8

Quote:I know the GG site is set up with Google search, I use it now and then, but for whatever reason searching the forums for specific things can be hit or miss.

The forums search index is broken for (at least) between Jan 20ish this year to about the end of April. The google indexer is indexing form messages being posted now, but there is at least one large gap that I have seen

#9 The issue for me is TDN was setup to look good first, not be content adding friendly. The templates make things harder than they should be ... In media wiki implementations, you click [edit this] and guess what.. you can edit it.. in this implementation, you have to find which template piece really holds the content before adding / modifying content.

I just think a native implementation would have been more sane for content posters... I do add TDN content, and I do jump through hurdles to get it done, and your right its "not" that big of deal, but it is another time constraint to provide content, my concern is how much more content would people post if it was easier, I see complaints in several posts saying they would add content if ..... So I started this to try and get someone's attention to address the content addition complaints.

#10 I have to say I also think that ressources are not really user-friendly: too many sources in my opinion (keeping just TDN would be great, boards for community-based help and blogs for general infos) and the TDN is not as user-friendly for editing as a wiki should...

Just my opinion...

A little bit out of topic, but it would be great to have tutorials updated for when TGB is officially released...

#11 We know that the process is still fragmented, but in general, the "Resources" concept from the forums themselves is outdated, and we are (very slowly, I admit) moving to TDN as the primary solution.

In general, if you have content you want to release to the public, you should use TDN to post it. If you don't like the templates concept (and I admit, I agree completely on the comments above regarding their "usefulness"), you should find an appropriate section in TDN and put it there!

FYI, the main reason for TDN in this particular circumstance is that the above "workaround" of posting your URL links to the resource tends to bypass the security (old) built around the concept of resources, as well as the common nature (again, due to old implementation) of people actually submitting their files/work to their own personal web sites, and simply linking to it from GG. This doesn't cover the EULA requirements since anyone that does a main internet search will probably gain access to your personal web site posting of the "protected" (by EULA) code.

TDN submissions are pretty much instant, subject to both peer and GG review (which is a GREAT thing!), and can be updated MUCH more easily by either the original author, or those that work with it later--which is another fundamental flaw of our current "Web Page Resource" system--they tend to go out of date and/or have broken links.

#12 Thanks for your answer, Stephen :)
I have to say that the concept of TDN is really nice in my opinion. Only risk is that companies using such a system often "forget" to put content and rely entirely on their community, but I know GG is better than the others ;)

Only thing is that I'm having troubles editing content on TDN: when I click the edit link, I get a blank edit area even if there is something on the page. Oh well, I guess I'm not gifted when it comes to wiki ;)

#13 @ sebastien Thats because the way its templated. You'll need to find which elements (usually) listed below your blank box, contain the actual content you need to edit.