[Typo3-dev] Extension reviewing process (request for discussion)

[Sylvain Viart]

Hi,

Michael Scharkow wrote:
> I am wondering what became of the extension reviewing project because I 
> have not seen much news about it lately. The reason I ask is that the 
> full list of available extensions is taking years to display because 
> it's so long :) 

I'm perfectly agree with you. Such a nice discussion. :-)

Do you have read this tread ?
<http://typo3.org/documentation/mailing-lists/user-list-archive/thread/61842/?tx_maillisttofaq_pi1%5Bsword%5D=WIKI%20woes&tx_maillisttofaq_pi1%5Banswered_only%5D=0&tx_maillisttofaq_pi1%5Bmode%5D=1>

It's related to translation of extension in other language, particularly 
in English. :-)

> 2. While there is a compatibility field for the supported Typo3 version, 
> I'd really like to know if an extension is DBAL-compatible and produces 
> XHTML, or in short, adheres to the coding guidelines.

I'd installed a TYPO3 3.7-dev extension on a 3.6.2, nothing has warned 
me about problem. The extension works partially, but no crash.

> 3. There is IMHO too much redundancy in TER, at least 3 event management 
> extensions, a lot of news stuff etc. Maybe extension authors should be 
> encouraged to merge their extensions if they serve a similar purpose.

May be a difficult point. Because, people like choice and extension are 
not always the same quality. By the way, developer must decide which of 
the extension will be the merge destination. Some author will lose their 
baby. :~(

And opensource contributor doesn't like to be dictated what they have to 
do.

But the idea is good, and should be developed. :-)

> So what I'm proposing here is a two-step reviewing process with a kind 
> of reviewing platform for the community [...] There should be simple
> guidelines about what to review (coding guidelines, compatibility,
> documentation)

Yes seems interesting. I've started a page for that in the Wiki.

http://wiki.typo3.org/index.php/Overview_Extension_manuals#Testing_extension

> With this process we could ensure both quantitative and qualitative 
> aspects of extension reviewing.

For programmer, an extension could be developed based on a reputation 
system, which would allow any people to note an extension. Famous people 
assign a note which is weighted by their reputation level.

Reputation is controlled by extension reviewer. When they review an 
extension as good, people who have noted this extension as good increase 
their reputation, and so one.

That could also be part of TYPO3 core extension manager...
-- 
Regards,
Sylvain Viart (France)
TYPO3 DocTEAM.