[theme-reviewers] splitting reviewers between queues

Fri Jan 27 16:41:32 UTC 2012

As a matter of fact, I'm already working on a WPTRT version of that plugin ;)

On Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 11:06 AM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net> wrote:
> Regarding the "badge" idea: I'm never one to prohibit something that my
> provide incentive to others; that said: my general sense of the WordPress
> project community/ecosystem is that the general philosophy/ethos is that
> contributors contribute primarily for the inherent benefit of
> contributing/giving back, rather than for any potential benefit in return.
> That is to say: the WordPress "meritocracy" puts far more value in
> contribution for its own sake than it does for contribution for the sake of
> personal gain.
>
> So, I don't think the idea of "badges" or gift cards/financial incentives
> would gain much traction. (The latter would certainly have to come from a
> third party, I'm quite sure.)
>
> That said: the "patches welcome" mentality does provide a bit of
> inspiration. Recently, someone created a Widget Plugin that allows users to
> tout their most recent core patch commits:
> http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-core-contributions-widget/
>
> I wonder if we couldn't pull similar data out of Trac, or out of the WPORG
> user profile feed, to create a similar Widget for WPTRT contributions (i.e.
> ticket closure count, or something?)
>
> Chip
>
>
> On Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 9:41 AM, Edward Caissie <edward.caissie at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> An incentive idea would likely help to some degree, but to be quite honest
>> a badge system needs to be policed ... as it has been noted there are many
>> places you can find themes with "bad" code (base64, SEO spam, etc.) what
>> would stop theme authors such as these from simply copying the badge image
>> and posting it on their site?
>>
>> Personally I take very little stock in "badges" as they are simply much
>> too easy to forge ... and since it is a perception idea being brought
>> forward it would be ripe for these forgeries.
>>
>>
>> Cais.
>>
>> PS: You might note I am in a "devil's advocate" kind of mood today.
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 9:41 AM, Rankin, Matthew W. (Student)
>> <mrankin at my.ccsu.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>> There are many people ( myself included ) who review themes just for the
>>> satisfaction of helping out WordPress. However, there are many people out
>>> there who need a little more than that to review themes. Even just a thank
>>> you and a WordPress badge to post up on their site would go a long way in
>>> attracting more theme reviewers and getting more production out of less
>>> active reviewers. The idea is fairly straight forward and easy to implement,
>>> and has a proven record of success as you can see by looking at many other
>>> websites around the web who use similar ideas.
>>> ________________________________________
>>> From: theme-reviewers-bounces at lists.wordpress.org
>>> [theme-reviewers-bounces at lists.wordpress.org] on behalf of Simon Prosser
>>> [pross at pross.org.uk]
>>> Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 9:09 AM
>>> To: theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>> Subject: Re: [theme-reviewers] splitting reviewers between queues
>>>
>>> What incentives? wordpress.org is a free organization and the theme
>>> team volunteer the time to review themes in their spare time.
>>> They all have regular jobs and lives as well.
>>>
>>> On 27 January 2012 13:41, Chandra Maharzan <maharzan at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> > I haven't reviewed any themes but I do think  this volunteer thing
>>> > might need to go at some point. Have a dedicated team who reviews
>>> > themes and they get incentives on each theme or something. Otherwise
>>> > like a person said above, people are discouraged. I was when I
>>> > submitted a theme about a year ago and it was reviewed in a long time
>>> > and the same thing is happening now. And I have 2 themes in the repo,
>>> > pretty popular ones. I am sure many designers feel like me.
>>> >
>>> > On Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 2:59 PM, Phenomenoodle | Taryn Wallis
>>> > <taryn at phenomenoodle.com> wrote:
>>> >> Up until about 5 years ago (when I transitioned into web design
>>> >> full-time) I
>>> >> was an Organizational Psychologist - things like badges work well as a
>>> >> motivational tool for some types of people, and absolutely not for
>>> >> others.
>>> >> I'm one of the others :)
>>> >>
>>> >> If there was a badge, I might consider putting it on my site, but it
>>> >> would
>>> >> have zero impact from an incentive point of view. I'm far more
>>> >> internally
>>> >> motivated, so external things like badges (or certificates etc) have
>>> >> no real
>>> >> meaning to me. In terms of theme reviews, I contribute because it
>>> >> allows me
>>> >> to give back to the community and to also learn from the experience -
>>> >> if I'm
>>> >> not able to do reviews, it's not because of lack of motivation, but
>>> >> simply a
>>> >> lack of time :(
>>> >>
>>> >> ______________________________
>>> >> Taryn Wallis
>>> >> Phenomenoodle
>>> >> WordPress design & development
>>> >> www.phenomenoodle.com
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> On Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 8:36 AM, Netzberufler
>>> >> <netzberufler at googlemail.com>
>>> >> wrote:
>>> >>>
>>> >>> I find Badges are a great idea. They should also be included into the
>>> >>> WordPress Profile Pages. http://profiles.wordpress.org/users/ or
>>> >>> http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/profile/ . BTW why are there
>>> >>> different
>>> >>> profile pages on wordpress.org?
>>> >>>
>>> >>> I currently don't review themes cause of my exams but I will begin
>>> >>> reviewing again in 2 weeks ;)
>>> >>>
>>> >>> 2012/1/26 Rankin, Matthew W. (Student) <mrankin at my.ccsu.edu>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>> Not directly related to this email thread but seems like a good
>>> >>>> place to
>>> >>>> post it. I was thinking about why there aren't more volunteer
>>> >>>> reviewers and
>>> >>>> why many are slow to review themes. I think it may be because it
>>> >>>> lacks
>>> >>>> incentive. So, I had an idea which may attract more reviewers and
>>> >>>> increase
>>> >>>> productivity among current reviewers. My idea is to create a
>>> >>>> WordPress
>>> >>>> badge. Theme reviewers can post this badge on their own websites to
>>> >>>> say that
>>> >>>> they contribute to WordPress. You could even create different levels
>>> >>>> of
>>> >>>> badges so as you review more themes you get higher level badges.
>>> >>>> It's a
>>> >>>> simple idea which has proven effective on many websites around the
>>> >>>> web. What
>>> >>>> does everyone else think of this idea?
>>> >>>> ________________________________
>>> >>>> From: theme-reviewers-bounces at lists.wordpress.org
>>> >>>> [theme-reviewers-bounces at lists.wordpress.org] on behalf of Rankin,
>>> >>>> Matthew
>>> >>>> W. (Student) [mrankin at my.ccsu.edu]
>>> >>>> Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 12:49 PM
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> To: theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>> >>>> Subject: Re: [theme-reviewers] splitting reviewers between queues
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> I'll do my best to follow your lead Chip. I've just been so busy
>>> >>>> lately I
>>> >>>> haven't had time to do many reviews. But I should be able to fit in
>>> >>>> one
>>> >>>> theme a day.
>>> >>>> ________________________________
>>> >>>> From: theme-reviewers-bounces at lists.wordpress.org
>>> >>>> [theme-reviewers-bounces at lists.wordpress.org] on behalf of Chip
>>> >>>> Bennett
>>> >>>> [chip at chipbennett.net]
>>> >>>> Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 12:31 PM
>>> >>>> To: theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>> >>>> Subject: Re: [theme-reviewers] splitting reviewers between queues
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> I don't think a paradigm shift is necessary (or helpful) at this
>>> >>>> point.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> The bottom line is: about 10 tickets per day are submitted. Thus, we
>>> >>>> need
>>> >>>> about 10 tickets per day reviewed and closed, in order to keep up
>>> >>>> with the
>>> >>>> submission rate. We are approaching 100 people who have reviewed
>>> >>>> Themes. If
>>> >>>> every person with ticket privileges reviewed two tickets, we would
>>> >>>> exhaust
>>> >>>> the current queue entirely.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> I've tried to push in the past to get reviewers to consider
>>> >>>> committing to
>>> >>>> a certain minimum level of participation, but as you've noted: it's
>>> >>>> not
>>> >>>> practical. We ARE all volunteers, and all have extremely busy
>>> >>>> schedules. (I
>>> >>>> last saw a "40-hour work week" sometime last summer.) Efforts to get
>>> >>>> such
>>> >>>> commitments inevitably have the opposite effect, as IMX they have
>>> >>>> only
>>> >>>> driven volunteers AWAY from contributing their time.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> That said: I'll do my best to lead by example. I will commit to
>>> >>>> reviewing
>>> >>>> one Theme per day, every day.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> Chip
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> On Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 11:07 AM, Edward Caissie
>>> >>>> <edward.caissie at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> Although it shouldn't need to be written, but once again it appears
>>> >>>>> a
>>> >>>>> reminder appears to be needed ...
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> To the best of my knowledge, every member of the current Theme
>>> >>>>> Review
>>> >>>>> Team is a volunteer. Every member also has a "full work load" with
>>> >>>>> many
>>> >>>>> simply unable to devote any time to this volunteer activity during
>>> >>>>> that
>>> >>>>> scheduled time. Many of the volunteers have other additional
>>> >>>>> WordPress
>>> >>>>> related activities that add to their typical "40-hour week" work
>>> >>>>> load. We
>>> >>>>> all have lives, too ... so, quite simply, we give what time we can
>>> >>>>> and look
>>> >>>>> to the community to contribute some of their time. Wait times, as
>>> >>>>> noted many
>>> >>>>> times, are inversely proportional to the amount of volunteer
>>> >>>>> reviewers
>>> >>>>> available to do the work.
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> We can appreciate the wait time is long and frustrating. This is
>>> >>>>> not the
>>> >>>>> only time this topic has been discussed, these are not the only
>>> >>>>> ideas that
>>> >>>>> have been considered. Unfortunately until their is perhaps a
>>> >>>>> paradigm shift
>>> >>>>> in regards to the WPTRT we may simply be forced to continue to
>>> >>>>> endure and
>>> >>>>> forge ahead under these conditions.
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> Cais.
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> On Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 11:48 AM, Bruce Wampler
>>> >>>>> <weavertheme at gmail.com>
>>> >>>>> wrote:
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> I would like to add my perspective on the review process.
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> I have been submitting one theme - with revisions and slight name
>>> >>>>>> modifications - for almost two years now - starting with 2010
>>> >>>>>> Weaver,
>>> >>>>>> changed to simply Weaver, and now Weaver II.
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> Because Weaver II is a name change, and represents a total rewrite
>>> >>>>>> of
>>> >>>>>> Weaver, it has been in the Priority Queue for almost 3 months now.
>>> >>>>>> I've just
>>> >>>>>> been sitting here waiting my turn.
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> But seriously - three months for new themes? The past week, the
>>> >>>>>> review
>>> >>>>>> rate has been only one new theme reviewed.
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> It is important to keep existing themes up to date - but to
>>> >>>>>> essentially
>>> >>>>>> have the new theme approval rate one a week will do nothing to
>>> >>>>>> encourage
>>> >>>>>> authors to submit new themes.
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> I had good reasons to change from Weaver to Weaver II, and perhaps
>>> >>>>>> should have requested it be treated as a revision of the existing
>>> >>>>>> approved
>>> >>>>>> theme. But I don know if I knew three months ago, that I likely
>>> >>>>>> would have
>>> >>>>>> done things differently, including the possibility of simply
>>> >>>>>> abandoning the
>>> >>>>>> WP theme repository.
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> But Weaver II represents a cutting edge theme/framework that has
>>> >>>>>> (or
>>> >>>>>> had three months ago) really new features, including what I think
>>> >>>>>> is likely
>>> >>>>>> the best mobile support of any WP theme. It is really frustrating
>>> >>>>>> to see it
>>> >>>>>> languish in the queue.
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> I just think a almost three month wait is excessive, and will
>>> >>>>>> seriously
>>> >>>>>> discourage developers from developing and submitting new themes.
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> The discussion of new 3.4 features seems almost silly since if the
>>> >>>>>> new
>>> >>>>>> queue theme stays at several months, it is likely that there won't
>>> >>>>>> be any
>>> >>>>>> new themes.
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> I believe is really important to keep fresh, new themes with
>>> >>>>>> cutting
>>> >>>>>> edge features coming in for the future health of WordPress.
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> Just some thoughts. I believe something needs to be done. I'd
>>> >>>>>> volunteer
>>> >>>>>> to review some themes, but I have serious ethical concerns about
>>> >>>>>> that, as
>>> >>>>>> well as a full work load supporting my theme which has become very
>>> >>>>>> popular
>>> >>>>>> on its own while waiting on the queue.
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> Bruce Wampler
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>> >>>>>> theme-reviewers mailing list
>>> >>>>>> theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>> >>>>>> http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________
>>> >>>>> theme-reviewers mailing list
>>> >>>>> theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>> >>>>> http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> _______________________________________________
>>> >>>> theme-reviewers mailing list
>>> >>>> theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>> >>>> http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>> _______________________________________________
>>> >>> theme-reviewers mailing list
>>> >>> theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>> >>> http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>>> >>>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> _______________________________________________
>>> >> theme-reviewers mailing list
>>> >> theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>> >> http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > --
>>> > cmans
>>> > _______________________________________________
>>> > theme-reviewers mailing list
>>> > theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>> > http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> My Blog: http://pross.org.uk/
>>> Plugins : http://pross.org.uk/plugins/
>>> Themes: http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/profile/pross
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
>>> http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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