So I initially wanted to reply to #110 where @jberkus mentioned that mailing lists (and IRC!) are no longer the most common communication tool, but this is perhaps a bit bigger thing that is worth its own issue. This is a sort of a late night brain dump that branches into two directions: new community roles, and new communication tools for community presence, and I wanted to get some ideas out so we can discuss them. Also apologies if some of these are already part of the TOSW2.0 content, I will need to review the existing chapters.
I have noticed that on non-software-development related open source projects there is often a separate user community that is not necessarily connected to the development of the project.
Facebook groups
They are a fairly common way to run a user community on open source projects where the user base consists of mostly non-developers who are not familiar with tools like Slack. Due to the different tools used, these communities also might or might not be connected to the actual developers of the project, who often are using Slack and GitHub issues and pull requests for actual development.
The FB group also has a number of people who are helping newcomers get started, which is an important role in a project, and easily makes those who get help more likely to help other newcomers in return.
YouTube
It seems fairly common that a lot of documentation (especially "getting started" and tutorial type things) exist in YouTube these days, and people go there to learn to use things. Some authors related to the more popular open source / DIY projects can even support their video creation with the YouTube ad revenue.
So I initially wanted to reply to #110 where @jberkus mentioned that mailing lists (and IRC!) are no longer the most common communication tool, but this is perhaps a bit bigger thing that is worth its own issue. This is a sort of a late night brain dump that branches into two directions: new community roles, and new communication tools for community presence, and I wanted to get some ideas out so we can discuss them. Also apologies if some of these are already part of the TOSW2.0 content, I will need to review the existing chapters.
I have noticed that on non-software-development related open source projects there is often a separate user community that is not necessarily connected to the development of the project.
Facebook groups
They are a fairly common way to run a user community on open source projects where the user base consists of mostly non-developers who are not familiar with tools like Slack. Due to the different tools used, these communities also might or might not be connected to the actual developers of the project, who often are using Slack and GitHub issues and pull requests for actual development.
related to popular open source flight controller software for DIY drones and UAV aircraft.
There are some active members in the group that are also connected with the FOSS project on
GitHub
The FB group also has a number of people who are helping newcomers get started, which is an important role in a project, and easily makes those who get help more likely to help other newcomers in return.
YouTube
It seems fairly common that a lot of documentation (especially "getting started" and tutorial type things) exist in YouTube these days, and people go there to learn to use things. Some authors related to the more popular open source / DIY projects can even support their video creation with the YouTube ad revenue.