Hey guys,

Now lets breathe before we all start yelling. I was just wondering, if there are any plans to merge (which there probably aren't) litestep.com, .net, ls-dev, and xmodules site all together to make one nice big central community with information in one place, make things simpler, organized and easier to manage to expand the litestep community as a whole.

Just thinking about it, I remember how confused I was, almost quit with ls just because I couldn't find the right information, now don't you think its time we linked all the domains?

Just a thought

Sounds like someone is volunteering to do a whole lot of work!

There was talk long ago about linking all of the sites together. Back when the admins of each site talked. It was decided back in the day that the three major sites .org (Development and Documentation), .com (News and Modules) and .net (Themes and Screenshots) would handle a specific piece of the puzzle. This was all well and good until .org didn't get renewed and .com disappeared off the face of the planet. Honestly I couldn't even tell you who runs the other sites anymore. The "merger" isn't as easy as it sounds and would basically turn it into one big site spread over three domains on hopefully different boxes and pipes. You would have to convince all but one of us to give up everything we have worked on to mold into another site. Personally I like having the different perspectives on the scene as is. The TLD's should do everything and leave sites like LS-Dev for their specializing.

Sounds to me it was going to fall apart from the getgo, having 3 domains linked very vaguely something like that was probable.

Don't get me wrong, this site is great for what is it, litestep.com is, shall we say lacking, and others are either outdated or needing a user boost.

I truly believe there would be a better knowledgebase, more understanding, bigger community and organized ease if everyone went to 1 site for everything. You know, 1 forum, 1 wiki, 1 friggin login. Sure, I'm lazy too, but coding aside, we could really get this done.

Is it more of a communication issue, or codind/figuring shit out issue thats stopping it,etc. or are we all just that lazy and don't care anymore? thinking like that you truly know litestep is outdated...

...more division?

http://www.ls-universe.info/comment.php?comment.news.339

I don't think you are understanding. Lets say we do what you suggest and merge all the sites into one big site. And lets also assume that you don't like that site. Are you saying that you can't then go make your own LS site? Because that is what you are really saying. The fact that LS-U doesn't like how we do themes and you not supporting them in doing themes their way proves that.

Yeah, it would be good if there was just 1 site,
but I think there is a reason why there isnt ;)

And its good this way. I mean, better than having no sites anyway :)

LS is about freedom of choice, and not just in the shell/GUI sense. The more active sites the better IMO. Many sites is a sign of health.

others are either outdated

What sites would that be? And why are you visiting them when there are other regularly updated sites?

or needing a user boost.

And how will a merger help remedy that?

...more division?

No, more diversity.


Finally, I see you became a registered member of ls.net about a month ago, which leads me to believe that you are equally new to LiteStep itself. You honestly think that one month makes you informed enough to suggest something like this? A little arrogant, don't you think? There's a lot of strong wills and differences of opinion in the LS community -- which is as it should be. The mere thought of everyone scrapping all their hard work and banding together is laughable.

world peace would be nice too. How do you think one would merge websites? Sure there is alot room for improvement, and sure one site for all would be better. But you cant just throw the websites in a box, shake it and get the new uber site. ^^

Well if we're going to quote by quote it

And lets also assume that you don't like that site.
comprosmises can be made, but if you want a voice you gotta a least critize, but thats beside the point

What sites would that be?
http://www.lsdev.org/news.php

And why are you visiting them when there are other regularly updated sites?
Hey, its 4th on google, and what would any other confused nub do?

And how will a merger help remedy that?
less confusion

As for your last comment, I can see why you think of me as "new" or what have you, but been lurking for about a year until one day I decided to register. Its not like I was born yesterday, decided to find an alternative shell, and have nothing in my brain to make suggestions. And arrogance...well sir, you don't have to be 80 years old to make suggestions to an old topic, I'll admit though, seems I'm a little lacking on how there is a "difference of opinion" with different sites. I guess people really can't solve problems over the types of colors they choose, or whether we require you to login every 15 minutes

But you cant just throw the websites in a box, shake it and get the new uber site.

didn't say it would be easy

hey, guys, it was just a suggestion, its not like i'm trying to impose one nazi-facist-site to rule all making George Washington shit his pants with no say from anyone anywhere ruling with an iron fist. Just a simple suggestion, hey if you like the division, "diversification", and can't think of another d word, then *** thats dandy, I was just voicing my opinion which I obviously thought was a nice idea and fun project....I guess I'm used to things (especially software projects) this way

About a "confused nub" visiting lsdev.org, hopefully the confused nub can read, because it's not a site for nubs:

"Welcome to LiteStep Development. This site provides support for LiteStep core and module developers. This includes development-related articles and forums. If you are looking for an Installer or Themes, please check our links section."

Granted, the links could be updated... kind of irony in there somewhere, I think.

While you may have a "voice" it doesn't mean anything if your opinion differs from what one other person wants. When you are talking about doing millions of hits a month like we do...a voice starts to mean very little. While it may be an opinion to be considered, one must weight it against all the others that haven't said anything and what they want.



I don't think a n00b can't make a suggestion. I just think that this is a pretty big suggestion that you don't comprehend fully.

I agree that the TLD's should make it easy for new users to find. We can't control .ORG because we don't own it but I think we have done our part here at LSnet to provide you with everything you need. Yes, people believe that things should be changed here and there and we are working on them...slowly. I think .COM is coming around as a true all-round LiteStep site. All-in-all it could be much much worse.

Check out the links sections on the first 3 sites maybe?



Do I detect sarcasm? If so, are you seriously saying that these things (colors, logins) are the only differences between the LS sites around today?

No, I don't think a change like the one you suggest would do LS any good. But for the sake of argument, let's say we would manage to create a big, united LS site. We're all one big family and everything's just peachy. Then this guy shows up, he's been using LS for a long while but like you he's been lurking. He wants to start his own LS site, maybe a specialized one, maybe not. Shouldn't he be allowed to do that? Should he be forced into this megasite project or become an outcast? Also, it's not unlikely to think that after a while, some people involved in the megasite will be so unhappy with the compromises they're forced to live with that they decide to jump ship and start their own project elsewhere. And boom, suddenly we have many sites again instead of a single one. And the only thing everyone will have gotten out of it is work gone to waste and even more confusion. Now I'm not saying this will happen, I can't know that of course. But knowing the community it seems likely.

However. What LS does need though, is a sort of hub-like community site. No site that has come along in more recent years has managed to fill the shoes of ls2k.org which was an excellent community site. I had hopes for ls.com when it was relaunced (ahead of schedule...), but it since nothing has been updated there for like 5 months I guess it ain't gonna happen (I seem to disagree with DeV on this :)). nbi-studio.com certainly shows promise but not enough people know about it yet. So maybe that's what we need. A central place with lots of links and news, not an huge end-all LS site.

West, yeah thats a good idea, a hub.
Also what LS needs is an actual forum. Like a decent template setup that works. Gets annoying having 1 actual decent forum portioned to all the ls sites :D (ls.net for content, ls-u for functions, ls-themes for ease of use etc.)

I guess nbi-studio is pretty good. Just as you say, more people need to know about it.
And thats more of an Obsidian forum/site anyway... :/

Oh well, when I am rich I will setup a hub site ;) (1000+ years later)

shhh!!



yea, but as I said earlier I don't know specifics, and can't believe people couldn't agree upon something like this...



never said he wasn't allowed to do anything, its just really improbable because people like things done for them. You know what he would do, he would make a post on our beautifully integrated forum with his suggestions for improvement, and volia!, its fine... Now obviously its not that perfect, but its not as radical as you put either.

I definetly wouldn't want to create a site alone, release it, then have it die. Many, including me, people would much rather have their own crew behind them, but with experience, trust me, 1 site is better than many. Not only due to the hassle coming to a new project with several sites, but the possibility to abandon, let go, and I'm afraid the whole litestep project will be overshadowed by bigger ventures, Vista updates...etc. Partially complaining about the lack of updates, and I think just an overall project on Listep would be great. Its probably possible right now, but nobody knows what the hell is going on...

Call me crazy, but with 1 site, much more collaberation, it would be much better. Rather work with 20 people on a project than 3.

When you need 5 friggin pages for links, thats gets me a little hestitant, even now.

But thats just me, so whatever, you guys seem really alienated, I won't even attempt to contact other administrators of other sites. Hopefully I'll find my own little nich in the many sites that exist.

Who knows, maybe I'll just stick here...still, I think we'd all agree, if there was a central wiki, or some kind of documentation, less people would ask questions, thus, less forum posts.

You mean like http://wiki.litestep.com?

What's a wiki?

A small furry NZ animal. Ask fractal, I'm sure he's seen one.