Hi!
I don't know how to measure the activity on ask-sage. Here is a
summary of the frequency of posts on the different sage google groops
over the past few months, listing the number of posts per month and
the total number from February to July. I ordered the lists by
increasing activity:
sage-newbie: None since June 2, 2008. Total 0
sage-solaris: None since Nov. 25, 2010. Total 0
sage-flame: 4, 0, 13, 0, 0, 0. Total: 17
sage-marketing: 5, 0, 1, 0, 4, 11. Total: 21
sage-algebra: 4, 56, 3, 17, 4, 2. Total: 86
sage-edu: 4, 32, 24, 10, 11, 14. Total: 95
sage-windows: 6, 5, 46, 6, 20, 24. Total: 107
sage-nt: 21, 10, 16, 7, 49, 12. Total: 115
sage-release: 84, 61, 119, 152, 64, 70. Total: 550
sage-combinat-devel: 154,292,135,129,108,77. Total: 895
sage-support: 291, 326, 302, 291, 269, 263. Total: 1742
sage-devel: 654, 581,699, 607, 421, 435. Total: 3397
I mainly wonder about the lists of medium size.
It seems to me that there is a broad thematic overlap between sage-
algebra, sage-nt and sage-combinat-devel. For example, if I have a
question on categories and coercion, then I am always uncertain
whether I should better post on sage-algebra or sage-combinat-devel.
Once, I had a question on coercion of number fields, and the
discussion has eventually been moved to sage-nt.
So, first question: Couldn't these three lists be combined into one?
Sorry that I can not suggest a good name for a combined list. They are
all about "abstract nonsense", but that's perhaps not a good name...
Second question: Why is the development of Sage on Windows and Solaris
not discussed in front of a larger audience, namely on sage-devel?
It is often stated that a native Windows port is one of the most
important short (or mid?) term goals of Sage. I think that moving sage-
windows and sage-solaris to sage-devel, which is read by more people,
would underline its importance. I think it can hardly be called a
problem if the number of posts on sage-devel would increase by
107/3397, which is less than 3.5%.
Thirdly, I wonder whether sage-edu and sage-marketing couldn't be
covered by sage-devel and sage-support as well.
I acknowledge that there have been reasons to create the small lists.
Also, it is a valid approach to have a separate list for the main
thematic areas of Sage. But then, why is there no list for symbolics
(or is there?)?
Moreover, reasons can change over time. I think that one reasonably
large list is more easy to follow than three small ones. And I expect
that having fewer but bigger lists would foster productivity. And if
one is really not interested in, say, the Windows port, then I think
it is quite easy to skip reading a post after seeing the subject line.
But I have no experience in project management, and more experienced
people may disagree with my expectation?
Best regards,
Simon
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