Nan:Octave-rfd-2

From: hs.chauhan@gmail.com (Himanshu Singh Chauhan)
Subject: 2nd RFD: comp.soft-sys.octave
Newsgroups: news.announce.newgroups, news.groups, comp.soft-sys.matlab,
 comp.dsp, comp.speech.research, comp.os.linux.development.apps
Followup-To: news.groups
Date: Sun, 21 May 2006 10:56:46 -0700

                     REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)
                unmoderated group comp.soft-sys.octave

This is a formal Request For Discussion (RFD) for the creation of the
unmoderated Usenet newsgroup, comp.soft-sys.octave.  Discussion should
take place in news.groups; see the PROCEDURE section, below, for more
details.

NEWSGROUPS LINE: 

comp.soft-sys.octave    GNU Octave, language for numerical computations.


RATIONALE: comp.soft-sys.octave

This new newsgroup "comp.soft-sys.octave" will be a forum for discussing  
application and development issues related to the use of GNU Octave, the  
free, open-source software package for doing numerical computations.  GNU 
Octave is very much similar to the commercial application "MATLAB" (from  
the MathWorks) in its syntax and function.                                
                                                                                
GNU Octave does not have any single roof for discussion. New users        
are daunted at the very onset of their exposure to Octave due to its      
complexity (e.g., the 350 page manual). This group will serve as a        
central, standardized meeting place for the discussion of GNU Octave      
which will allow the exchange of ideas and flow of information on all     
aspects of GNU Octave by users of all experience levels.                  
                                                                                
The establishment of a GNU Octave Usenet newsgroup will leverage the      
NNTP standard, which is a commercially independent and well-established   
standard that will provide a forum that is free from manipulation and     
advertisement (unlike many web-based forums) for all discussion of        
GNU Octave and will be easily interfaced from any Usenet news client      
application.                                                              
                                                                                
Because of Octave's syntactical resemblance to MATLAB(R) (from Mathworks, 
Inc.), users read the MATLAB newsgroup (comp.soft-sys.matlab) to watch    
for a look-alike solution to their problems. Thus the establishment of a  
separate Octave newsgroup will partition Octave issues from MATLAB issues 
and reduce off-topic questions in the MATLAB newsgroup. Related questions 
have also appeared in comp.dsp                                            
                                                                                
Development issues such as crashes and errors that might not otherwise be 
reported can be posted here. Developers can scan the group for problems   
and post possible fixes or workarounds.                                   

A mailing list exists for GNU Octave (help-octave@octave.org), but it is 
busy with development-related tasks. The daily general and application-
specific issues can be more accurately dealt with a separate newsgroup 
for GNU Octave.

The name comp.soft-sys.octave seems to be an appropriate choice.

This newsgroup is meant for quick exchange of information about GNU Octave
so the moderation of the group isn't necessary.


CHARTER: comp.soft-sys.octave

General GNU Octave questions and its application to specific fields such  
as digital signal processing, digital communications, medical imaging,    
etc., as well as development issues such as bugs, fixes, workarounds,     
etc., in the main Octave kernel as well as developer- and user-supplied   
scripts (.m files) which extend Octave's functionality.                   

The general issues include:

  * Addressing new user queries.
  * Exchange of source code in public domain, especially .m scripts.
  * Addressing the applications of GNU Octave in various fields.

Usage specific in fields like Signal Processing:

  * Exchange of public domain source code to strengthen the signal 
    processing part of GNU Octave.
  * Addressing the beginner to advanced queries regarding various signal 
    processing related function available with GNU Octave, as built-in or 
    as separate packages.

Commercial Postings

Commercial advertising related to Octave from software vendors,           
publishers, etc. will be permitted in a very limited fashion.             
                                                                                
Unwelcome posts                                                                 
                                                                                
Flames and other non-constructive criticism are harmful when directed     
to new readers.  The octave group is meant to be a friendlier place on    
the net for beginners, intermediate, advanced users. Flames and other     
non-constructive criticism aimed at those seeking help are unwelcome.     

END CHARTER.


PROCEDURE:

The newsgroup creation process is currently undergoing revision.  Please
refer to the newsgroup creation policies listed here:

        http://www.big-8.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=policies:proposals

All discussion of this proposal should be posted to news.groups.


DISTRIBUTION:

This RFD has been posted to the following newsgroups:
  
  news.announce.newgroups, news.groups, comp.soft-sys.matlab, comp.dsp, 
  comp.speech.research, comp.os.linux.development.apps

PROPONENT:  

Himanshu Singh Chauhan <hs.chauhan@gmail.com>


HISTORY:

2006-03-20    Second RFD submitted; reformatted by Tim Skirvin.
2006-03-18    Added several more newsgroups.
2006-03-15    Reformatted by Tim Skirvin for posting as an RFD.
2006-03-14    Submitted by Himanshu Singh Chauhan.