The UtahOpenSourceFoundation is creating tools to help LocalUserGroups better run their groups. LugServer is the first part in providing these tools to make LocalUserGroups easier to manage and run.
LugServer Goals
LugServer - A simple, yet feature-full publication system to share their message with those who are interested
CentralizedCalendar - Enable those looking for nearby LocalUserGroups of a different nature, or similar LocalUserGroups closer to their geographic location.
LiveStreaming - The ability to share their message via live audio/video streams, including screencasts of the activities with archival for later review in several forms
Planned Features
There are three planned features of LugServer. Each to be rolled out each in their own stage, listed here and described below.
LugServer Core
Lug Server Core
Thanks to Stuart Jansen of Guru Labs for the consulting on this component. The LugServer can provide a simple, yet effective interface for LocalUserGroups (LUGs) with minimal effort.
LUGs
- Need to attract new members through advertisement.
- Have events at regular intervals, usually meetings with a presenter and a topic.
- Each event requires communication to the members of the LUG about the meetings.
Potential Membership
- A website is needed for potential members to find through search engines.
- This website does not need to be flashy and/or heavy on web 2.0 features.
- Needs to be updated regularly to show current activity.
If the site is updated regularly, the group is probably alive.
- A calendar of events for the LUG and possibly other groups should be displayed.
- A simple administration page to manage what should be shown.
Event Announcements
- LUG members regularly read news feeds (rss2, atom, etc) using tools like bloglines, liferea, google reader, etc.
- Importing a calendar file (ical, caldav) into a calendar application (google calendar, sunbird, evolution)
- Mailing lists are great resources for announcements.
The website could easily be updated with this information as well providing the alive feeling.
Tools
It should be completely possible to accomplish this application with many of the open source tools already available. While some development using these applications is necessary, it should only be minor and simple enough to develop in a short amount of time. Included tools:
- Apache web server
- Darwin Calendar Server (among other caldav tools)
- Mailman
- Postfix
The general idea would mean a simple application set is installed and set up and the CentralizedCalendar would be ready for use.
Centralized Calendar
The idea of a CentralizedCalendar will help to inform, enthuse, associate and integrate LocalUserGroups by providing a central resource from the above LugServer and from already established feeds from current LocalUserGroups
Streaming Server
Already provided by UtahOpenSourceFoundation at http://stream.utosf.org
Rollout of known LocalUserGroups to be complete by end of 2008