I'm a Java (web) programmer and I'd like to take a shot at rewriting community.linuxmint.com in Java.
My reasoning is as follows:
- The current incarnation of the website is written in PHP. From experience I know that Java is a lot more stable than PHP, so I believe the rewrite is going to be a positive change.
- I think I can stand to learn something from this, since (I hope) I'll be receiving a lot of feedback from the community.
- AFAIK the creator of the current website is clem, and he seems a pretty busy guy! This might take the work load off.
- I'd like to get more acquainted with the community, and I think this project might allow me to do just that.
- It doesn't hurt to try. Worst case scenario: you stick with what there is now. Best case scenario: a cool new website.
My long-term vision is that this new Java website would come to replace pretty much everything Mint-related on the linuxmint.com domain (including this forum, the blog/main site, etc.). I think this is feasible if the new website is released in parts.
Naturally I'm willing to share the source-code with the Mint team (and if required/desired I can make it open-source altogether).
However as I wrote in my comment on the original idea thread I have no idea what you people think about this. I don't want to end up creating something that no-one is going to even want to look at, so I'd like to know that I have a chance of success.
I also don't have any idea when the community.linuxmint.com website was made, and who made it (AFAIK it's clem but it might be someone else). My intention is not to insult someone else's work so if I've offended someone by my suggestion I'd like to know and clear it up.
I'm finally starting to get my Mint installation under control and I'm hoping to have a functioning Eclipse installation soon. I'm prepared to work on the website & take input from the community about it... so long as I have a chance that it's actually going to be used. I'd like to know the communities' stance on my proposal so I can be motivated to work on this. So... what do you think?