Message-ID: <20081230014726.RGDBA.401474.root@hrndva-web19-z02>
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:47:26 -0500
From: <lmage11@twcny.rr.com>
To: Jesper Juhl <jj@chaosbits.net>
Subject: Re: IRC?
Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
In-Reply-To: <alpine.LNX.2.00.0812300222370.16537@swampdragon.chaosbits.net>
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---- Jesper Juhl <jj@chaosbits.net> wrote: 
> On Mon, 29 Dec 2008, lmage11@twcny.rr.com wrote:
> >
> You might want to add your name to that address when sending mail...
> 
> > I know that Linux kernel development discussion has pretty much always 
> > taken place on mailing lists, but would you guys consider developing a 
> > presence on an IRC network, probably Freenode? There already exists a 
> > ##kernel channel which could be used, and other channels could be 
> > created for specific subsystems. I think it'd be an interesting new 
> > medium to try out for discussion between developers, and it would also 
> > make the developers more accessible to users who find the mailing lists 
> > inconvenient or intimidating. The only subsystem I know of that 
> > maintains a reliable presence on IRC is the DRM subsystem (i.e. Dave 
> > Airlie, Eric Anholt, etc), and it works great.
> > 
> > Not trying to start a flame war here, just wondering what you guys 
> > think. :)
> > 
> Everyone and their grandmother knows how to use email - :)
> Significantly fewer people know how to use IRC - :(
> 
> The mailing list is archived in various places - :)
> IRC chats are rarely archived - :(
> 
> Archiving all LKML mail locally is easy - :)
> Archiving all of a IRC channel continuously locally is not so easy - :(
> 
> Email archives are easily searchable by subject, sender etc - :)
> IRC archives are not so easily searchable by subject etc - :(
> 
> Email is nicely asynchronous, letting people read and respond at their leisure - :)
> IRC chats are not as asynchronous - :(
> 
> Patches are easily distributed via email - :)
> Patches are not very easily distributed via IRC - :(
> 
> IRC channels can be a nice suplement when a few people need to discuss 
> something in semi-real-time related to some LKML thread or just some 
> kernel related topic, but it's no replacement for the mailing list.

Yeah, I wasn't proposing it as a replacement... Just as an alternative means of
communication for those that prefer it. For me personally, it would also make
kernel developers feel more "accessible", which would be nice.

Ari
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