[Cc-webedit] Website meeting minutes

[Alistair Alexander]

Here are my minutes from Sunday. May well have missed some vital  
points - if so, please let me know.

Alistair


Website Group Meeting – 5 July 2009

Present: Alistair, Jon, Neil, Tim

  CMS


Proposal to re-develop website on new Browser CMS

Main isues with current Drupal CMS:
-       easy URLs not automatic – onus is on editor to manually add them

-       User permissions system is based around page types rather than  
website sections – making limited access for working group editors  
difficult to implement

-       Admin user interface is very awkward with no WYSIWIG for HTML  
format and possibly prevents wider participation in maintaining the  
website


Browser CMS is based on Ruby on Rails
	– highly regarded app framework
	- Far better interface, relatively quick to build

Possible concerns with switching CMS:
WYSIWIG, Easy URLs, and permissions could be added to Drupal, but  
would probably require significant development work
Browser CMS has far smaller user base
Will be difficult to fiund others with technical skills to develop

Group agreed to develop on Browser CMS contingent on finding a  
satisfactory RoR hosting solution

Jon will do workshop sessions on technical development, Web group to  
arrange workshops on using new CMS before and during Camp.

Action: Jon to begin technical development of new Browser CMS once a  
suitable host is found


Development schedule and process

  The current schedule for redevelopment is very tight and ambitious.

Main constraint is not technical development, but liaising with wider  
group and getting wider agreement at all stages of development.

Agreement that current website requires a facelift prior to new site  
being launches.
Recently added banner should be replaced as soon as possible – Tim to  
raise issue on networking list.

New designs from Torchbox (see below) to be adapted for current  
website masthead.

This should alleviate pressure on new website development project.

New website project should also include re-evaluation of website  
processes to ensure wider participation in website development and  
maintenance.

At least one person from each working group required to develop  
working group areas of website.

Action: Alistair to produce questionnaire for working groups on what  
they want from the website prior to next gathering.

Gathering should get a full progress report from website group with  
schedule.

Action: Web group to meet on Saturday 18 July at london gathering


Web group should make more use of crabgrass for collaborative working.


Design brief


Main website sections:
-       Next actions

-       Past actions

-       Get involved

- 	Blog

- 	Press


View that brief should give more direction on look and feel.

Agreed that masthead should be distinct from any current or previous  
publicity material and should be relatively "neutral" so as not to  
clash with other publicity material

Agreed that website design should be high-impact with strong emphasis  
on photos.


Actions:
-       Alistair and Tim to suggest detail on look and feel for design  
brief

-       Jon to send Torchbox selection of photos

-       Tim to compile archive of previous publicity material for  
Torchbox

-  Jon to send amended design brief to torchbox monday and get  
estimate date for initial design work


There will be a single blog for the whole site with contributions from  
the different working groups. Blog should cover news, development and  
avoid opinion.

There should also be a news feed from Hyperactive CMS (see below) of  
five top stories (question - will these be selected by website editors  
before appearing on cc website, or will they be an automated feed?)

Schedule OK for design, but less time required for feedback –  
recommended 48 hours with advance notice. Schedule to be revised once  
Torchbox have given design delivery dates.

Conference call for web group to be arranged to discuss initial design  
feedback.

Hyperactive CMS


This is a new open content platform developed by Indymedia for public  
to publish news and video content.

Intention is to develop separate website for this for climate action- 
related content. This could then be surfaced on main CC website, and  
be used as main online media library.

Jon to investigate further and to contact CC photographers and film  
makers for views.
  
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