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Idea #18100: Ubuntu Developer Network

Written by JReagan1990 the 17 Feb 09 at 16:19. Related project: ubuntu.com. Status: New
Rationale
Just like Microsoft has MSDN, Sun has SDN, why not have a UDN? :)

We have MOTU, but still the wiki pages are scattered and not exactly the best guides on how to begin programming. Beginners would find it troubling on how to begin. Creating a developer community around Ubuntu would be extremely beneficial.
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Solution #1: CREATE UDN!
Written by JReagan1990 the 17 Feb 09 at 16:19.
A page could be created on the main ubuntu.com site, and would include sections for "beginners", "experienced developers", etc. This page would have all the resources (or links to wiki pages) to get started developing applications for Ubuntu. Let's face it -- there is no easy guide to creating a simple package for beginning programmers, or guides that might be suitable for such a task. The page could also embed videos from the Ubuntu Developer's channel, and even host the Ubuntu Developer News (the weekly news for ubuntu devs).

It would certainly help improve the image of Ubuntu's development process and show that it is very active. The site would also make it more visible to mainstream developers (game companies, etc.), and it would also help to create a standard around Ubuntu.

Update - added a mockup (screenshot) over on my blog with a more complete writeup:

http://jonreagan.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/ubuntu-developer-network/

You can read the official plan here:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfdw2zz6_155gdk646df
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Solution #2: Make UDN subscription based
Written by 311005901 the 22 Feb 09 at 14:38.
Users can still go to the Ubuntu forums for help, but the UDN network could be more in-depth and require a low monthly fee. The proceeds will go toward upkeep of the site, development projects, or Canonical.
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Solution #3: Make UDN completely free
Written by 311005901 the 22 Feb 09 at 14:43.
Users can access all areas of the UDN website free of charge, always.
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Solution #4: Make a learn on your own style course
Written by asdlkf the 2 Mar 09 at 14:53.
While many people that develop for linux/ubuntu have formal education in programming, etc...

We can not expect users who do not know how to make a hello world program to contribute to bug fixing or creation of new content.

Far more work needs to be put into creating an organized, prerequisites-basted, comprehensive, and motivating site/videos/etc. Call it ubuntu classroom or something. Maybe it could be part of edubuntu or just in some way related.

EVERY topic should be touched on and there needs to be quality control and granularity to the subjects included.

A very tree-like structure should be used.

"How to program for ubuntu"
"How to Program for ubuntu in C"
"How to Program in C"
"For loops in C"
"If-then control structures in C"
"binary tree searching in C"
"Basics of data structures"
"Basics of data types"
"How to define data types"
"How to program for ubuntu in php"
"How to program for ubuntu in ..."
"How to port programs to ubuntu from Windows"
"How to port programs to ubuntu from windows in C"
"How to package your program for use with ubuntu"
"How to compile the program for use in a package"
"How to compile the program"
"How to configure an IDE"
"How to obtain/select an IDE"
"How to locate include'ed source packages"
"Settings to use for generic distribution"
"Where to submit completed packages"
"How to get help with your program(ing)"
"Where you can go to find help"
"Where you can go to find help online"
"Where you can go to find help IRL"
"Where you can go to find help in class"
"How to decipher compile errors"
"How to troubleshoot logic errors"
"etc... etc... etc..."
"etc... etc... etc..."

Obviously this list could be 1000's of lines long. But the basic structure should be:
Item
-List of items which [Item] is dependant on
-Information on where/what/how to use [Item]
-List of items which depend on [Item]

This way, when people link to a tutorial "oh, just go here and see how to program in C", they are also linking to all of the tutorial information someone would need to know how to program in C reguardless of prerequisite knowledge.


By providing a complete framework for getting started at ANY point, anyone with any level of educational background could say "I want to learn how to make a program in C and package it for use in ubuntu". Then find how to program in C. Then read how to use data types/control structures/GUI's/etc..

It might take them a few days/weeks/whatever to read up to speed, but in the end, they could do it, for free, open.

-- Chris
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Solution #5: Create a UDN Wiki complete with tutorials on GTK, Mono etc.
Written by jamesmcm the 15 Mar 09 at 12:21.
This would make it much easier for developers who haven't used GNU/Linux before to develop applications for Ubuntu. A wiki style system is useful as it is easy to keep up to date and well moderated.
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Solution #6: Like Solution #1 and #4 but also with mentors
Written by trumbun the 22 Apr 09 at 15:01.
Sometimes new programmer would like to help but it is difficult to find a project to help in it.

Their should be a page with projects that Ubuntu developers help in.

A subscription page for new programmers that wish to help with their knowledge (like a CV)

When a project is assigned to the programmer he/she can talk to a mentor using voice chat to help out.

Propose your solution

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Comments
delphiexile wrote on the 18 Feb 09 at 12:48
I'm 100000000000000000000000000000% with you , ubuntu developers must have a network to connect them together. It is a very important that must be applied by Ubuntu .

fixor wrote on the 19 Feb 09 at 11:47
+ 100000000000000000. I cannot possibly agree more. I tried to get started, but i got stuck on the wiki pages, being redirected in circles.

Btw, this page should become located at http://development.ubuntu.com/ , so people will know development is a serious part of the community.

MattBD wrote on the 19 Feb 09 at 18:47
I agree with you on so many levels. Ubuntu really needs this! It's already a great environment for learning more about computers. Ubuntu needs to capitalize on that by encouraging more people to take an active interest in learning to program, and providing resources about programming. Things like tutorials on building a few fun applications using different programming languages, such as a few on making games using Python and PyGame, or using Mono, for example.

jharris1993 wrote on the 21 Feb 09 at 02:06
JReagan,

You are SOOOOOO 10-hundred-gazillion-percent right it's not even mildly humorous, let alone funny. . . .

And Andrew is (as I have noticed before) so right on the mark it's a wonder.

Developers need a UDN for Ubuntu. Developers need a unified development environment for Ubuntu. Developers need a way to know / find-out what the #$&^@*!!! is going on for Ubuntu. . .

They need to know that they will be able to get in, get busy, and get done without wasting their time spinning wheels or re-inventing fire.

**I, myself** have ideas for things I'd like to either see - or tweak - and I would have absolutely NO PROBLEMO DUDE helping out with the occasional tweak or twist here or there, or maybe developing that "Killer App" that I've been dreaming about. . .

But every time I look at the development tools, I get a headache. It's such a balls-up confuserated mess that it's a wonder that ANYONE IN HIS RIGHT MIND would develop for Linux, let alone Ubuntu!

This suggestion is such a loaded suggestion - and in order to do it really rightly - there is so much that would need to happen.

However, having my choice between a piece of the pie, or NO PIE, I'll take the piece any day of the week!

What say ye?

Jim

JReagan1990 wrote on the 21 Feb 09 at 03:26
Thank you all so much for the support! I have for some time now wanted this to happen.

For the work, I mean, really... it should seem simple that wiki pages should be put in the order (or at least different tracks) that people can follow. Right now it seems like a tangled vine of wiki pages going all over the place... linking in every which direction -- yet never the info you need. I personally feel very strongly about this idea since I have gone through the development process and even uploaded to REVU. It wasn't easy, and it could have been a lot easier to learn.

Thanks again everyone!

Jon

JReagan1990 wrote on the 22 Feb 09 at 20:57
I do believe that all features should be free for this idea... in all due respect, creating a site that would hinder it's usage based on a fee goes against what Linux and Ubuntu stands for. Especially at this point, we need to work on building a community around development, rather than hindering it. If the folks at Canonical want to make money, they can sell advertising.

eggonabull wrote on the 23 Feb 09 at 19:55
Making it subscription based would kill it in my eyes. Hopefully a site like that could be supported by advertising. If it couldn't, I'm against the idea.

brettalton wrote on the 23 Feb 09 at 20:54
I know this is a useless comment but I have nothing more to say but:

+1

311005901 wrote on the 26 Feb 09 at 14:41
I like the free beer concept, but, IMO, Linux users should support the developers (Youtube Steve Ballmer) and maintainers that would be contributing to UDN.

JReagan1990 wrote on the 27 Feb 09 at 03:41
Most developers (if not all) who are not employed by a company to develop on open source software are not paid, they do it in their free time. Perhaps, if a help system was set up for tutoring, then people could give donations via PayPal if they would like. That is better than a closed-system proprietary developer's site.

ubunturules246865 wrote on the 1 Mar 09 at 12:54
This is a perfect idea! It is a great way for Ubuntu to get more developers! However, making it subscription based would not help ubuntu get more developers at all.

JustAboutRealJAR wrote on the 14 Mar 09 at 21:20
I like the "Solution #4: Make a learn on your own style course" idea, but I think that python or C# (mono) would be better languages to start with than C


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