Template talk:FOSS

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This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Template:FOSS page.

Contents

[edit] This Template

I created this template as a result of a request at Template talk:Linux.

I consider that it needs a lot of development and also that it needs to be put on a lot of pages. Please feel free to do both and let's see how we can evolve it! - Ahunt (talk) 17:13, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

Would it be appropriate to add the portal links to the nav template? I see no reason to clutter articles with both.
Also: I think that the 'applications' row should be removed (unless someone can provide an objective means for deciding which applications to include--the scope is just too large). --Karnesky (talk) 18:13, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
The idea of merging the portal into the nav template sounds great, if you know how to make that work, please do.
I agree that the app list will get too long. Perhaps it should just link o List of open source software packages instead as that page seems to serve much the same idea? - Ahunt (talk) 18:31, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
Good move. I see plenty of space for some "open source software packages" templates - the list is just ridiculous.--Kozuch (talk) 23:00, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

I think that doing away with the list was a good idea. It would have got very long very quickly. The page linked to is the most complete list of open source applications on Wikipedia. - Ahunt (talk) 23:56, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

What else do we need on this template for categories? - Ahunt (talk) 23:58, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
I have added the Free Software portal to the nav template, so this nav box can probably now replace the same small portal boxes on those pages, just to reduce clutter. Please do add any other applicable portal links to this nav box!- Ahunt (talk) 12:00, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
Portal:Free software is the only portal about free software on WP. Portal links have a standard appearance (the small box with logo on left). If a mention of the portal in this box is to replace those portal links, it should be linked by it's small box rather than by a simple text link. --Gronky (talk) 12:24, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
Actually, I just realised that replacing the portal link with this template is a bad idea. On many of Wikipedia's best articles, there are multiple templates at the bottom and the contents get hidden. Portals are normally linked outside of template boxes, so Wikipedia readers would not know to look in the template for the free software portal. --Gronky (talk) 12:30, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

Okay - makes sense. I'll leave the portal links on the nav template for convenience, but leave the portal box on the pages, too. I did think it reduced clutter! - Ahunt (talk) 13:16, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

PS - Thanks for putting the portal box into the template. That makes it a bit more obvious! I reverted the removal of the portal box on the Mozilla Firefox page, but have left it removed on some of the shorter pages, where it was close to the nav box. We'll see what other editors think. - Ahunt (talk) 13:45, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] New group for compilers & interpreters?

I would be tempted to add GCC and some other open source compilers, but it probably doesn't make sense to include it with the other applications. Perhaps we need a new group for Computer Languages? -- Schapel (talk) 18:35, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

Sounds good as long as they are free/open source - feel, free to edit the template. - Ahunt (talk) 19:10, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
Well, I would try to keep some _basic programming and development_ links in this template, because as soon as we start to list more projects, there will be no end...--Kozuch (talk) 12:44, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Template placements

I think we should stick to one rule - place the template on pages only that the template lists. I think this should actually apply for all templates ever.--Kozuch (talk) 18:35, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

In general I agree, but I do think that this template is also useful on open source application article pages. In general most of these have no nav boxes to link them to other subjects and in particular the master list at List of open source software packages. I think this list is the most useful link we have as it helps users locate articles on free software applications. - Ahunt (talk) 19:16, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
While creating "FOSS packages" template will be truly complex task, using FOSS template temporarily on the applications pages might be an accepbable solution.--Kozuch (talk) 20:17, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
I don't think it would be possible to create an applications (packages) nav template. There are just too many open source apps available. The List of open source software packages is as close as we will get, I think! - Ahunt (talk) 21:20, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
I think there could be maybe more templated for some sections of the list... probably the most complete sections. I will try to have a look at it.--Kozuch (talk) 10:54, 26 March 2008 (UTC)
It may be possible to use the headings from List of open source software packages to create something manageable. The key thing is whether it will help readers! Are you thinking of adding that to this template? That might be a good place to start, this template could be a bit bigger than it is without getting unwieldy. For an example of how big a nav box can get without too many complaints see Template:USN_scout_aircraft - Ahunt (talk) 11:32, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Linux Foudation

I am not sure Linux Foundation should be here, as it is mostly Linux-only oriented and is in Linux template already.--Kozuch (talk) 12:32, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Why are we linking to individual projects.

While CUPS is very important, there are thousands of other *nix components and applications that are also important. Why should this template have any links to projects at all? Instead there should be one link to "important projects". Based on feedback, or lack of it. I will make the template project neutral in the future. (Ftrotter (talk) 17:24, 6 May 2008 (UTC))

You make a good point. Early in the history of this template we had a list of applications, but it was obvious that it was going to get pretty large pretty fast, so we opted to go with a link labeled " List of applications" that leads to List of open source software packages. CUPS is linked from that list indirectly, it is under "Category:Free PDF software", linked from "PDF Main article: Category:Free PDF software". Based on that it could be argued that this template altready links through indirectly to CUPS. I think it is really an issue of how large we want this template to get. Some like Template:USN scout aircraft are considerably bigger than this one is.- Ahunt (talk) 20:16, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] bsd

should this template truly link "bsd?" Noone uses bsd, they use openbsd, freebsd, or netbsd. 74.13.56.168 (talk) 14:44, 31 July 2008 (UTC)

Well no one uses "Linux" either - they use the distros based on it. The BSD article gives the basic background on BSD and then links people to the BSD distos. - Ahunt (talk) 16:00, 31 July 2008 (UTC)
Uh, hate to be a prick and all, well, no, that's not accurate, I actually enjoy it, but anyways... The three BSDs are not distributions, they're full fledged operating systems, unlike the Linux operating systems, which are all redistributions of the same basic set of software. Each bit of the systems are different, even if they implement the same functionality - FreeBSD's and OpenBSD's tail are not the same piece of software, they're not even made by the same people. 74.13.56.168 (talk) 20:30, 31 July 2008 (UTC)
So what are you suggesting? - Ahunt (talk) 20:35, 31 July 2008 (UTC)
Maybe call it operating system families, instead of operating systems? 74.13.56.168 (talk) 20:37, 31 July 2008 (UTC)
Sounds logical to me - Ahunt (talk) 22:26, 31 July 2008 (UTC)
M'kay. 74.13.37.109 (talk) 15:09, 2 August 2008 (UTC)
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