Project jobs

Jobs in the GRASS project

- draft -

The growing infrastructure and extended user support requires more efforts to integrate user contributions and to keep things running. This page contains a list of jobs for which we seek volunteers. These jobs descriptions may appear a bit formal, but shall illustrate the needs.

Translations manager

The translations manager is responsible for maintaining the translation of GRASS messages (translation page; [http://grass.itc.it/mailman/listinfo/translations mailing list)

Skills:

• knowledge (or willingness to learn use) of translation tools (kbabel, poEDIT)
• familiarity (or willingness to learn use) with CVS (see instructions)
• no programming skills required

Tasks:

• work with GRASS CVS-Head (latest GRASS)
• merging translation contributions (with 'msgmerge' of .po files or simply use po_merge.sh)
• invite translators to contribute (ask regularly, find new), make them use recent GRASS
• create template files for new languages ('make pot')
• update existing translations after having received latest submissions from translators ('make update-po')
• keep headers of .po files intact and up-to-date
• add new translators to AUTHORS file in source code

Estimated workload:

• in average: 1-2h per week or less

Web site contributors

Several Web site contributors are desired to update pages and to improve the current structure. A future goal could be the move to a CMS system such as Drupal which would be a major effort.

Skills:

• knowledge of standard HTML (a single PHP function is used to construct menus)
• willingness to use plain text editors to write pages (to avoid that HTML cruft creeps in)
• familiarity (or willingness to learn use) with GRASS Web site CVS (see instructions)
• no programming skills required

Tasks:

• update outdated pages
• think about and implement "user stories" to make site more attractive
• think about and implement translation of important pages
• simplify structure
• add new screenshots with credits/CC license)
• regularly check if mirror sites work

Estimated workload:

• in average: 1-x h per week

Public relations manager

Despite the continuous growth of the user community, we seek "GRASS GIS awareness" especially for public administration and companies. A multi-language brochure is needed to promote GRASS in a more effective way. Funding for a high quality print is to be defined.

Skills:

• communication and design skills

Tasks:

• find like-minded people to form a GRASS promotion group
• communicate the existence of the GRASS project
• design of a multi-language brochure (both PDF and printed) in collaboration with the OSGeo-VisCom team
• create material to illustrate the GRASS functionality
• contact public administration and professionals in a non-spammy way
• collect success stories and render them usable for the Web site

Wiki manager

The GRASS wiki (you are using it at the moment) requires continuous monitoring.

Skills:

• basic knowledge of mediawiki usage
• no programming skills required

Tasks:

• update outdated pages
• simplify structure where needed (merge pages)
• clean up Orphaned pages (link, merge or remove)
• keep Categories up to date (add at bottom of pages where needed)
• keep an eye on spammers

Estimated workload:

• in average: 1h per week

Interested people

While we have to figure out the process, here a list of interested people. Please add yourself:

• Malte Halbey-Martin: Public relations Manager + Web site contributor
• Dylan Beaudette: Web site contributor (familiar with Drupal CMS)
• Scott Mitchell: Web site contributor, could possibly do the translation job, if nobody with translation tool experience volunteers