The format and interaction are very different. I like them both. 1) Discussion - It's nice being able to respond online. The thread display is nice. I like the avatars. The fancy formatting can be helpful. However, sometimes it decides to do formatting whether I like it or not. :( 2) Mailing List - It's nice getting emails automatically. I like text-only format.
I take it just a personal decision, different formats for different preferences. Anyway, here are a few questions:
OK to cross-post sometimes, after trying one method?
Which one is more popular (# of users on each)?
Which gets better responses, or basically the same?
Any type of question more suited for Discussion vs Mailing List?
One more suited for "beginner" vs "advanced" questions?
My impression is they are both "general discussion", no difference in user level or type of question. And since the maintainers and other experts probably monitor both, I guess it doesn't matter. But I thought I would ask. BTW, if they are for the same purpose, it did strike me as a little problematic, because for those who search the archives before asking a question, it takes twice as long, and the search works differently. Also, users solely employing one method won't see posts on the other method. But perhaps not a big deal.
Thanks,
Daniel
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My feeling is that mailing lists feel more permanent than discussions here; at least, they're replicated across a good few inboxes. I don't think we're going to request people use one over the other though. That horse has bolted.
The useful, curated information needs to be moved into Wiki pages finally.
For your formatting matters, use Ctrl-P (or the eye icon) to preview.
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I take it from your answer (or lack thereof) :) that they are both general discussion, it's totally my choice which to use, and it's OK to cross-post now and then, but use common sense.
I agree it's perhaps not a good idea to have people switch from one to another. I'm not even sure which method is better. That would be a whole debate. For example, another advantage (or disadvantage?) of the Discussion is that any user can easily go back to a previous topic and add something. That's not so easy with the Mailing List.
Yes, the information from both methods could be gleaned into the wiki. No need to reinvent the wheel.
I previously had tried CTL-P but it did not help. I already knew it was f$#!ing up the format. Even as I was typing the previous sentence, it decided to use italics! CTL-P doesn't fix anything, AFAICT.
I think what I needed to use was the "code block" option, because that was the main problem, it was messing up the source code, changing #include to include, changing /* to /, etc. Continuing to type, I just figured out that an asterisk makes it think you want italics. I HATE software that tries to think for me. Please, do what I tell you, don't try to read my mind. Or give me a button to switch modes between "think for me" and "do what I say".
For my edification, I'm going to test: code block /* */ in middle of paragraph. And next,
#include Code block /* comment */
As separate paragraph
Last edit: DanAaronGoldman 2015-11-03
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Sorry about the lack of responses in the discussion section. I don't think very many people go here.
SourceForge is using Markdown (or a variant thereof), if you want to learn how to write here with correct formatting. I don't know of any way to turn it off.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
When to use Discussion vs Mailing List?
The format and interaction are very different. I like them both. 1) Discussion - It's nice being able to respond online. The thread display is nice. I like the avatars. The fancy formatting can be helpful. However, sometimes it decides to do formatting whether I like it or not. :( 2) Mailing List - It's nice getting emails automatically. I like text-only format.
I take it just a personal decision, different formats for different preferences. Anyway, here are a few questions:
Which gets better responses, or basically the same?
Any type of question more suited for Discussion vs Mailing List?
My impression is they are both "general discussion", no difference in user level or type of question. And since the maintainers and other experts probably monitor both, I guess it doesn't matter. But I thought I would ask. BTW, if they are for the same purpose, it did strike me as a little problematic, because for those who search the archives before asking a question, it takes twice as long, and the search works differently. Also, users solely employing one method won't see posts on the other method. But perhaps not a big deal.
Thanks,
Daniel
My feeling is that mailing lists feel more permanent than discussions here; at least, they're replicated across a good few inboxes. I don't think we're going to request people use one over the other though. That horse has bolted.
The useful, curated information needs to be moved into Wiki pages finally.
For your formatting matters, use Ctrl-P (or the eye icon) to preview.
Thanks.
How many users on Discussion vs Mailing List?
I take it from your answer (or lack thereof) :) that they are both general discussion, it's totally my choice which to use, and it's OK to cross-post now and then, but use common sense.
I agree it's perhaps not a good idea to have people switch from one to another. I'm not even sure which method is better. That would be a whole debate. For example, another advantage (or disadvantage?) of the Discussion is that any user can easily go back to a previous topic and add something. That's not so easy with the Mailing List.
Yes, the information from both methods could be gleaned into the wiki. No need to reinvent the wheel.
I previously had tried CTL-P but it did not help. I already knew it was f$#!ing up the format. Even as I was typing the previous sentence, it decided to use italics! CTL-P doesn't fix anything, AFAICT.
I think what I needed to use was the "code block" option, because that was the main problem, it was messing up the source code, changing #include to include, changing /* to /, etc. Continuing to type, I just figured out that an asterisk makes it think you want italics. I HATE software that tries to think for me. Please, do what I tell you, don't try to read my mind. Or give me a button to switch modes between "think for me" and "do what I say".
For my edification, I'm going to test:
code block /* */ in middleof paragraph. And next,Last edit: DanAaronGoldman 2015-11-03
Sorry about the lack of responses in the discussion section. I don't think very many people go here.
SourceForge is using Markdown (or a variant thereof), if you want to learn how to write here with correct formatting. I don't know of any way to turn it off.