Item466: Writing down some informations on Home.Download ( download page )

We need a native speaker to write down some informations on the download page

When will the first release be ready?

After 8 weeks of hard work we are approaching a beta release any time now. To stay up to date please sign up for the Foswiki release mailing list.

What can I expect from the release

General

• Being able to run TWiki Plugins which work on 4.2.3
• Being able to migrate properly from TWiki 4.2.3 to Foswiki 1.0
• A lot of bugfixes and Features

Features

• Foswiki stand alone ( FSA ): The Foswiki core is now able to run without a httpd server ( no apache ).
  • Gaining a lot of performance by skipping the bootstrap on every request
  • Being able to run on USB-Sticks and stuff
• A lot of renewed, polished and upgraded TWiki plugins just for Foswiki. Also some brand-new plugins with cool features
• A new default skin with more usability and simply nice looking

...and a lot more....

Where will I be able to get the release

• Will be available from sf and a lot of other mirrors all over the worl ( US, UK, Germany, NL...)

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I suggest not putting too much marketing information on the Download page, but instead placing it on the ReleasePlan page, or even a preliminary release notes page. I have written something quickly; when I get a bit more time I will review it again. -- IsaacLin - 14 Dec 2008

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Sorry but i think, the release plan is to technial. What you call "marketing" is for me simply "casual user informations". We should use the release plan as additional information page for the technicans, admins and wiki-champions ( whatever you call them ).

We really need to get down to the normal user first, then add informations for each group/kind of user then. Not the other way arround

• EugenMayer - 14 Dec 2008

I agree. This page should cover these use cases:

1. Existing TWiki admin that considers a switch
2. New wiki investigator that is considering Foswiki
3. Developer that wants to know if Foswiki has life

And answer these questions:

• Why would I consider a switch? What's the benefit?
• Do you have a demo running with latest features installed?
• Will there be an upgrade installer?
• What kind of work can I expect? (How much work will it be to upgrade?)
• I recently updated TWiki to fill a security hole. Can I update from this version?
• Can I use our inhouse TWiki plugins?
• Can I use TWiki plugins?
• What support can I expect from Foswiki?
• Can you let me know when the download is ready?

Not all information has to go on this page, but it should be easy to find.

• ArthurClemens - 14 Dec 2008

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Arthur really good outline. I think we should not debate to much, just create, refactor and optimze. I would start but i consider my English far too bad to put this online on this page. I guess I only can provide answers to the questions above and answer these questions:

• Why would I consider a switch? What's the benefit?

Foswiki is developing rapidly while maintaining high quality, as most developers of TWiki are now working on Foswiki. The accumulated know-how from years of development is now being applied to advancing Foswiki. In addition many ideas, plugins and implementations which were held back due to questions about the future have now been implemented in Foswiki.

Foswiki's active community provides timely and knowledgable support and bugfixing, and a rapid pace of development of new features.

New features in 1.0.0 are ..... briefly then (link to Release notes)

?mention freedom aspect?

So all in one, Foswiki has an active community that was able to release a rebranded, bugfixed and featureful release in 2 months in over 1,4k checkins into svn. Due that time, TWiki has done nothing as releasing a version which had been nearly ready before the fork. Beside we question they effort and the way they "fix" things, TWiki seems to be a dead place without any future, having one or two developers on the project.

• Do you have a demo running with latest features installed?

demo.foswiki.org is reflects a common and featureful Foswiki installation

• Will there be an upgrade installer?

There will be a upgrade script from TWiki 4.2.3 to Foswiki. In addition, Foswiki will be able to run all TWiki 4.2.3 plugins.

• What kind of work can I expect?

For a standard TWiki installation with common plugins, the migration can be achieved in XXX minutes. If your setup is more complicated, for instance involving customised skins, then see the Migration Guide, or get help on #foswiki.

• I recently updated TWiki to fill a security hole. Can I update from this version?

tba

• Can I use TWiki plugins, or our inhouse TWiki plugins?

Yes, all plugins for TWiki 4.2.3 can run on Foswiki as well.

• What support can I expect from Foswiki?

All (but one) experienced core developers of the old TWiki, together with some new developers are working extremly active ly on Foswiki. The community reflects all positions, those who represent compatibility to old versions, those trying to bring in new features as also a new staff of User-Inferface developers bringing needed improvements to the interface.

Together with the core developers a lot of consultants have moved to Foswiki and are fully supporting it. In addition, the community has grown and we simply can say, that the support for any kind of users has developed a lot on this new project. We will keep this and will ensure to provide excellent free and commercial support for Foswiki.

• Can you let me know when the download is ready?

There is a low-traffic mailing-list which is used to announce such things: https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/foswiki-announce

• EugenMayer - 14 Dec 2008
• EliotBlennerhassett - 14 Dec 2008 edits

I think you misunderstood me: I agree answers for the regular user should be given first. However, I believe those who have selected a download link want to get the software, not read a lot about the software. Those who want to know about why they should get a new software version will usually select a link for release notes, "What's new", or something similar. Nonetheless, I have updated the download page to pull in answers for these questions from the other topics where they are covered already. I have made some updates to these other pages and will try to make some more. -- IsaacLin - 15 Dec 2008

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Well this seems cool to me. I think we need to get the page more "good" looking like Support.WebHome with some cute images and stuff ( for the release ). But yet, i think this perfectly fits the needs

• EugenMayer - 15 Dec 2008

Thanks for writing it up.

• ArthurClemens - 15 Dec 2008