chuckr
Still Fresh
I'm VERY impressed with the implementation of the new unofficial roadmap. The problem, as I see it, is that the pandora's development timing is a lot different than your ordinary commercial project would be. The best way to handle this (as is the correct way to handle ANY PR problem) is to be extra forthcoming. The unofficial roadmap (I think that term probably stems from a worry that some folks may try to take all of those "best guesses" as firm promises, and I'm sure there must be crazies like that) does a fine job of giving me a good feel for the present timing of the project.
I have a couple of suggestions, if they sound good, and time exists to do it, maybe you could think about it. First, store the unofficial roadmaps in some sort of source code archive system (like cvs or svn) and allow users to be able to page backwards or forwards, to get a feeling for project momentum. I don't suggest random access, both because all dates don't actually have entries, and making the access just "Page forward/backward" will accomplish the goal of illustrating project history while making the interface simple as possible.
Second idea, regarding the entry for "mass production, testing, shipping", you are clear that the rate will probably increase, but could you give your idea of the most likely rate? I mean, first (week, month, whatever) 5 boards, 2nd period, increase by X percent, all dependent onb these most likely factors. Correct that last statement to reflect reality, and it will give a better feeling for what that subheading represents.
I personally feel that anyone who tries to hold you to your guesses is realistically unstable (for a basically hobbyist project), so I think you folks might be getting a bit too defensive in some ways. One sentence at the top, making this clear, really ought to drive away the deranged well enough, don't you think? Always reading the endless qualifications just feels unnecessarily painful, is all.
I sure am looking forward to using the Pandora, although I might not be using it primarily as a game platform. Might well be the best embedded devel platform I've come across, with suitable storage connected up. What fun I'm going to have! So please don't read these ideas as any sort of criticism of the Pandora project.
I have a couple of suggestions, if they sound good, and time exists to do it, maybe you could think about it. First, store the unofficial roadmaps in some sort of source code archive system (like cvs or svn) and allow users to be able to page backwards or forwards, to get a feeling for project momentum. I don't suggest random access, both because all dates don't actually have entries, and making the access just "Page forward/backward" will accomplish the goal of illustrating project history while making the interface simple as possible.
Second idea, regarding the entry for "mass production, testing, shipping", you are clear that the rate will probably increase, but could you give your idea of the most likely rate? I mean, first (week, month, whatever) 5 boards, 2nd period, increase by X percent, all dependent onb these most likely factors. Correct that last statement to reflect reality, and it will give a better feeling for what that subheading represents.
I personally feel that anyone who tries to hold you to your guesses is realistically unstable (for a basically hobbyist project), so I think you folks might be getting a bit too defensive in some ways. One sentence at the top, making this clear, really ought to drive away the deranged well enough, don't you think? Always reading the endless qualifications just feels unnecessarily painful, is all.
I sure am looking forward to using the Pandora, although I might not be using it primarily as a game platform. Might well be the best embedded devel platform I've come across, with suitable storage connected up. What fun I'm going to have! So please don't read these ideas as any sort of criticism of the Pandora project.
What's more painful though, is the result of not doing this. Once a little factoid or a date gets into circulation, it starts getting posted as fact. Someone mentions it, ten people react to it as if it's official, then a fire has to be put out. I'm trying to minimise this by ramming the "unofficial" point home constantly. There will still be people who don't get it, and will complain about the dates being wrong. Having said that, I think some of my wording is pretty clunky and I plan to tidy it up.
