Forum .LRN Q&A: Make installation work for everyone

Posted by Christian Fuchs on 05/19/06 08:22 AM

We installed OpenACS and dotLRN weeks ago on Debian Linux for the purpose of testing modules for our installation.

We managed the installation ok, but I think we have not installed one single module with at least 2 hours afterwork to make it run errorfree.

Is this necessary? Maybe we are to dumb, but in order to keep track with Moodle this has to change.

2: Re: Make installation work for everyone (response to 1)

Posted by Dave Bauer on 05/19/06 02:37 PM

We can help you install what you need, and we can also improve the situation for new users, if you provide us with a little more information.

What did you try, and what happened? What went wrong, what error message did you see, or what result did you expect that did not occur?

3: Re: Re: Make installation work for everyone (response to 2)

Posted by Ryan Gallimore on 05/19/06 08:28 PM

I feel your pain Christian, that's why I wrote some install guides:

https://openacs.org/xowiki/openacs-system-install

http://demo.viscousmedia.com/public/file-storage/view/OpenACS-Debian-Install.zip

Dave: are there any initiative in place for teaching/welcoming new users (other than your help on irc?)

If not, I'd love to start discussing how I could help in this regard.

4: Re: Re: Re: Make installation work for everyone (response to 3)

Posted by Christian Fuchs on 05/21/06 12:12 PM

Thanks this looks great. I did not know.

5: Re: Re: Re: Re: Make installation work for everyone (response to 4)

Posted by Ryan Gallimore on 05/21/06 01:29 PM

Not a problem. I've tested the FC4 installation for dotLrn.

6: Re: Make installation work for everyone (response to 1)

Posted by Dave Bauer on 05/21/06 07:29 PM

Ryan,

It sounds like you are now in charge of the effort to improve the new user experience for OpenACS/.LRN :)

Honestly there are any number of suggestions, but little effort has been put into implementing these. I suggest you start a forum thread to get people interested and organized in one place. I know several people who are interested in this type of project.

7: Re: Re: Make installation work for everyone (response to 6)

Posted by Ryan Gallimore on 05/21/06 08:43 PM

Thanks, Dave. That's very exciting. I'd love the job :)
Look for a forum thread shortly. As I was recently told on irc, the biggest problem with acquiring new blood is the slow learning curve. So let's try and come up with some new strategies to flatten this curve.