Re: list of contributors [rethought]

> 1. Use the word 'contributor' in the future instead of > author, as we are talking about a wide range of roles > here, including authors, note editors and the like :) > The definition of an 'author' in the context of the PHP manual is vague since, while a particular person may have written the first draft of a manual page, there may have been dozens of subsequent changes by others resulting in an effective rewrite. Does the original author deserve to be called the author of that document more or less than the ones who updated it? No. They all contributed to its current form. Long way of saying: "Me too!" > 4. We cannot list every contributor on the frontpage, there > is not enough space for it. > Goes without saying. > 5. We should have a long list on a 'credits page', (4) implies this. > But do we need a main authors list as the GTK manual has one for > example? > While it's important to give proper recognition for contributions (for reasons outlined in #3), it's also important to properly weigh the relative contributions. Having a one-time typo-fixer credited next to a mainstream documenter, lessens the "leetness factor" of having recognition at all. I picture all contributors (great and small) listed in an appendix, but grouped within that page (using guidelines similar to those proffered by philip earlier) to give appropriate credit where credit is due. > So my conclusions are: > -> Everyone should be listed who deserves it > +1 > -> Therefore a credits page is needed, with as many roles > as we define, with people with multiple roles listed in > multiple places +1 > -> A credits page is enough (no need to have a major authors list), > with the text on the frontpage: > +1 > PHP Manual by the <link>PHP Documentation Group</link> > > All this is in respect to those who won't get listed on the frontpage. > With this solution we can even list guys who 'only' contribute to > extension level documentation, and keep major contributors on top of the > list. > Not sure what 'only' implies here. Extension documentation (and the function reference in general) is considered by many to be the most critical section of the PHP manual. > I am also +1 for the method suggeted by Alexander Aulbach, then Philip > and then Jouni, to list 'historical' contributors separately, and give > current contributors a better recognition. I hope the current > authors/editors will let this go ;) > An easily maintainable and expirable way to implement this might be to create separate pages for contributions by version. credits.php3, credits.php4, credits.php5, etc... Maybe not.... Just my midnight-grade 2-cents worth. -Pollita