1 To: python-list 2 Subject: comp.lang.python RFD again 3 From: Guido.van.Rossum (a] cwi.nl 4 5 I've followed the recent discussion and trimmed the blurb RFD down a bit 6 (and added the word "object-oriented" to the blurb). 7 8 I don't think it's too early to *try* to create the newsgroup -- 9 whether we will succeed may depend on how many Python supporters there 10 are outside the mailing list. 11 12 I'm personally not worried about moderation, and anyway I haven't 13 heard from any volunteers for moderation (and I won't volunteer 14 myself) so I suggest that we'll continue to ask for one unmoderated 15 newsgroup. 16 17 My next action will be to post an updated FAQ (which will hint at the 18 upcoming RFD) to comp.lang.misc; then finalize the 1.0.0 release and 19 put it on the ftp site. I'll also try to get it into 20 comp.sources.unix or .misc. And all this before the end of January! 21 22 --Guido van Rossum, CWI, Amsterdam <Guido.van.Rossum (a] cwi.nl> 23 URL: <http://www.cwi.nl/cwi/people/Guido.van.Rossum.html> 24 25 ====================================================================== 26 27 These are the steps required (in case you don't know about the 28 newsgroup creation process): 29 30 First, we need to draw up an RFD (Request For Discussion). This is a 31 document that tells what the purpose of the group is, and gives a case 32 for its creation. We post this to relevant groups (comp.lang.misc, 33 the mailing list, news.groups, etc.) Discussion is held on 34 news.groups. 35 36 Then, after a few weeks, we run the official CFV (Call For Votes). 37 The votes are then collected over a period of weeks. We need 100 more 38 yes votes than no votes, and a 2/3 majority, to get the group. 39 40 There are some restrictions on the vote taker: [s]he cannot actively 41 campaign for/against the group during the vote process. So the main 42 benefit to Steve instead of me running the vote is that I will be free 43 to campaign for its creation! 44 45 The following is our current draft for the RFD. 46 47 ====================================================================== 48 49 Request For Discussion: comp.lang.python 50 51 52 Purpose 53 ------- 54 55 The newsgroup will be for discussion on the Python computer language. 56 Possible topics include requests for information, general programming, 57 development, and bug reports. The group will be unmoderated. 58 59 60 What is Python? 61 --------------- 62 63 Python is a relatively new very-high-level language developed in 64 Amsterdam. Python is a simple, object-oriented procedural language, 65 with features taken from ABC, Icon, Modula-3, and C/C++. 66 67 Its central goal is to provide the best of both worlds: the dynamic 68 nature of scripting languages like Perl/TCL/REXX, but also support for 69 general programming found in the more traditional languages like Icon, 70 C, Modula,... 71 72 Python may be FTP'd from the following sites: 73 74 ftp.cwi.nl in directory /pub/python (its "home site", also has a FAQ) 75 ftp.uu.net in directory /languages/python 76 gatekeeper.dec.com in directory /pub/plan/python/cwi 77 78 79 Rationale 80 --------- 81 82 Currently there is a mailing list with over 130 subscribers. 83 The activity of this list is high, and to make handling the 84 traffic more reasonable, a newsgroup is being proposed. We 85 also feel that comp.lang.misc would not be a suitable forum 86 for this volume of discussion on a particular language. 87 88 89 Charter 90 ------- 91 92 Comp.lang.python is an unmoderated newsgroup which will serve 93 as a forum for discussing the Python computer language. The 94 group will serve both those who just program in Python and 95 those who work on developing the language. Topics that 96 may be discussed include: 97 98 - announcements of new versions of the language and 99 applications written in Python. 100 101 - discussion on the internals of the Python language. 102 103 - general information about the language. 104 105 - discussion on programming in Python. 106 107 108 Discussion 109 ---------- 110 111 Any objections to this RFD will be considered and, if determined 112 to be appropriate, will be incorporated. The discussion period 113 will be for a period of 21 days after which the first CFV will be 114 issued. 115
