Index: openacs-4/packages/dotlrndoc/www/doc/dotlrn-faq.adp =================================================================== RCS file: /usr/local/cvsroot/openacs-4/packages/dotlrndoc/www/doc/dotlrn-faq.adp,v diff -u -N -r1.1 -r1.2 --- openacs-4/packages/dotlrndoc/www/doc/dotlrn-faq.adp 29 Mar 2002 17:21:56 -0000 1.1 +++ openacs-4/packages/dotlrndoc/www/doc/dotlrn-faq.adp 29 Mar 2002 19:48:17 -0000 1.2 @@ -1,162 +1,172 @@ <%= [dotlrn_header "dotLRN FAQ"] %> -

The dotLRN FAQ

+
-
Contents
+

The dotLRN FAQ

- -
-
Basics
-
The OpenForce Role in dotLRN
-
dotLRN and OpenACS
-
Licensing
-
Miscellaneous
- +

part of dotLRN + +

Contents + +

+ +

Basics - - -

Basics

- -
Q: What is dotLRN?
- -
- dotLRN is a full-featured application for rapidly developing web-based learning communities, specifically in the context of Course Management. The dotLRN software relies on OpenACS v4 and includes data model, application logic, and templates to get you up and running very quickly. -

Read more at dotLRN.mit.edu -

- +

Q: What is dotLRN? +

+ + dotLRN is a full-featured application for rapidly developing + web-based learning communities, specifically in the context of + Course Management. The dotLRN software relies on OpenACS v4.5 and includes data model, + application logic, and templates to get you up and running very + quickly. +

Q: Is dotLRN usable? +

+ + dotLRN is currently in alpha state. The + target audience at this time is mostly early + adopters. No backwards-compatibility will be ensured + until a beta version. That said, dotLRN is quite + stable as is and can most certainly be used to determine + near-term usability in a production environment. -

Q: Is dotLRN usable?
-
- dotLRN is currently in alpha state. The target audience at this time is mostly early adopters. Note also that no backwards-compatibility will be ensured until a beta version. That said, dotLRN is quite stable as is and can most certainly be used to determine near-term usability in a production environment. -
+

Q: When will dotLRN ship? +

+ + dotLRN beta is planned for May 1st, 2002. dotLRN v1.0 is + planned for August 1st, 2002. -

Q: When will dotLRN ship?
-
- dotLRN beta is planned for May 1st, 2002. dotLRN v1.0 is planned for August 1st, 2002. -
+

Q: How can I contribute? +

+ + We are currently developing our contribution mechanisms. +

If you are actively interested in helping us + develop these mechanisms, please contact us at dotlrn@openforce.net. -

Q: How can I contribute?
-
- We are currently developing our contribution mechanisms. If you would like to work on the core, you should email dotlrn-core@openforce.biz. If you would like to build new dotLRN extensions, you can check out how to build dotLRN extensions. -
- - - -

The OpenForce Role in dotLRN

- -
Q: What's the relationship between Sloan and OpenForce?
-
A: Sloan hired OpenForce to develop dotLRN to replace the aging SloanSpace v1.
- - - -
Q: How will OpenForce work with other OpenACS - developers?
-
-A: OpenForce will continually provide anonymous CVS access to the dotLRN -development tree. OpenForce will continue to provide architectural -direction and goals for dotLRN. Over time, OpenForce will qualify and -include new developers in the core development process. OpenForce -expects to lead - but not monopolize - the dotLRN process. OpenForce -will also provide a repository of dotLRN applications available for -all to obtain existing dotLRN extensions and provide new ones to the community. -
- - - -
Q: Will OpenForce develop, support, and/or host - dotLRN commercially?
-
A: Absolutely.
+

Q: What about this dotLRN Governance discussion? +

-

Q: Will OpenForce preclude me from providing -my own services surrounding dotLRN?
-
A: Absolutely not.
+ The discussion is still under way. MIT Sloan will be providing + the framework for this in the very near future. -
Q: But Why? Aren't you crazy to throw away -such clear business opportunity?
-
A: We are not in the business of selling -packaged closed-source software. We believe that open-source software -and a strong developer community provides plenty of opportunity for -numerous commercial services. We intend to stick to the Open-Source -track 100%. No tricks here.
+ +

State of dotLRN + Development - - -

dotLRN and OpenACS

- -
Q: Is dotLRN a part of the OpenACS project?
-
dotLRN is not part of the OpenACS project, but -is an OpenACS application. This means that dotLRN will install on a -vanilla OpenACS without additional modifications and through the -regular, accepted OpenACS API. While dotLRN developers happen to also -be core OpenACS developers, the dotLRN team is taking all possible -measures to ensure that any modification suggested to the OpenACS core -is approved by other OpenACS developers that do not have a direct -stake in dotLRN.
- - -
Q: Will dotLRN be merged into OpenACS?
-
A: This is a question to be answered by the OpenACS -community. -
- - - - -

Licensing

- +

Q: So what version of OpenACS do I need to use? +

-

Q: What are the terms of use for dotLRN?
-
A: dotLRN is distributed under the GNU General -Public License v2. -
+ dotLRN will work with OpenACS v4.5. Currently, dotLRN requires + some fixes to OpenACS that are not part of beta1 (but which will be + part of a later beta), so you'll need to download the latest OpenACS + CVS. +

When dotLRN is released as a complete tarball, + we will specify exactly which OpenACS tarball you'll need to use. +

Q: Wait, why isn't it compatible with PostgreSQL? +

-

Miscellaneous

+ We have focused our initial development on Oracle compatibility + for MIT Sloan. We have made significant headway in PostgreSQL + compatibility, and we (OpenForce) intend to use dotLRN on + PostgreSQL. Full PostgreSQL support is imminent, and all progress will + immediately appear in the CVS tree. -
Q: How is dotLRN spelled and pronounced?
-
A: It's sometimes written as .LRN, but - the spelling and capitalization dotLRN is - preferred. dotLRN is pronounced "daught-learn" We are currently accepting voice applications for the dotLRN MP3 pronounciation file. -
+

Q: Can I use ACS Classic 4.2/4.3? +

+ You can try, but we haven't done any testing with ACS Classic, nor do + we intend to. We suspect that the numerous improvements made to + OpenACS over the past few months will make dotLRN incompatible + with ACS Classic. - -

+

+ The OpenForce Role in dotLRN + +

+ Q: What's the relationship between MIT Sloan and OpenForce? +

+ + MIT Sloan hired OpenForce to develop dotLRN to replace the aging + SloanSpace v1, which itself was built on ACS v3. + +

Q: How will OpenForce work with other OpenACS + developers? +

- + OpenForce will continually provide anonymous CVS access to the + dotLRN development tree. OpenForce will continue to provide + architectural direction and goals for dotLRN. Over time, OpenForce + will qualify and include new developers in the core development + process. OpenForce expects to lead - but not monopolize - the dotLRN + process. OpenForce will also provide a repository of dotLRN + applications available for all to obtain existing dotLRN extensions + and provide new ones to the community. + +

Q: Will OpenForce develop, support, and/or host + dotLRN commercially? +

Absolutely. +

Q: Will OpenForce preclude me from providing + my own services surrounding dotLRN? +

Absolutely not. - - +

Q: But Why? Aren't you crazy to throw away + such clear business opportunity? +

-

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
+ We are not in the business of selling packaged closed-source + software. We believe that open-source software and a strong + developer community provides plenty of opportunity for numerous + commercial services. We intend to stick to the Open-Source track + 100%. No tricks here. + - +

dotLRN and OpenACS + +

Q: Is dotLRN a part of the OpenACS project? +

+ + dotLRN is not part of the OpenACS project, but it is an OpenACS + application. This means that dotLRN will install on a vanilla + OpenACS without additional modifications and through the regular, + accepted OpenACS API. While dotLRN developers happen to also be + core OpenACS developers, the dotLRN team is taking all possible + measures to ensure that any modification suggested to the OpenACS + core is approved by other OpenACS developers that do not have a + direct stake in dotLRN. + +

Q: Will dotLRN be merged into OpenACS? +

+ This is a question to be answered by the OpenACS community. + - - +

Licensing +

Q: What are the terms of use for dotLRN? +

+ dotLRN is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2. +

Miscellaneous + +

Q: How is dotLRN spelled and pronounced? +

+ It's sometimes written as .LRN, but the spelling and + capitalization dotLRN is preferred. dotLRN is + pronounced "daught-learn" We are currently accepting + voice applications for the dotLRN MP3 pronounciation file. + +<%= [dotlrn_footer] %>