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1To:  python-list
2Subject: comp.lang.python RFD again
3From: Guido.van.Rossum@cwi.nl
4
5I've followed the recent discussion and trimmed the blurb RFD down a bit
6(and added the word "object-oriented" to the blurb).
7
8I don't think it's too early to *try* to create the newsgroup --
9whether we will succeed may depend on how many Python supporters there
10are outside the mailing list.
11
12I'm personally not worried about moderation, and anyway I haven't
13heard from any volunteers for moderation (and I won't volunteer
14myself) so I suggest that we'll continue to ask for one unmoderated
15newsgroup.
16
17My next action will be to post an updated FAQ (which will hint at the
18upcoming RFD) to comp.lang.misc; then finalize the 1.0.0 release and
19put it on the ftp site.  I'll also try to get it into
20comp.sources.unix or .misc.  And all this before the end of January!
21
22--Guido van Rossum, CWI, Amsterdam <Guido.van.Rossum@cwi.nl>
23URL:  <http://www.cwi.nl/cwi/people/Guido.van.Rossum.html>
24
25======================================================================
26
27These are the steps required (in case you don't know about the
28newsgroup creation process):
29
30First, we need to draw up an RFD (Request For Discussion).  This is a
31document that tells what the purpose of the group is, and gives a case
32for its creation.  We post this to relevant groups (comp.lang.misc,
33the mailing list, news.groups, etc.)  Discussion is held on
34news.groups.
35
36Then, after a few weeks, we run the official CFV (Call For Votes).
37The votes are then collected over a period of weeks.  We need 100 more
38yes votes than no votes, and a 2/3 majority, to get the group.
39
40There are some restrictions on the vote taker: [s]he cannot actively
41campaign for/against the group during the vote process.  So the main
42benefit to Steve instead of me running the vote is that I will be free
43to campaign for its creation!
44
45The following is our current draft for the RFD.
46
47======================================================================
48
49Request For Discussion: comp.lang.python
50
51
52Purpose
53-------
54
55The newsgroup will be for discussion on the Python computer language.
56Possible topics include requests for information, general programming,
57development, and bug reports. The group will be unmoderated.
58
59
60What is Python?
61---------------
62
63Python is a relatively new very-high-level language developed in
64Amsterdam.  Python is a simple, object-oriented procedural language,
65with features taken from ABC, Icon, Modula-3, and C/C++.
66
67Its central goal is to provide the best of both worlds: the dynamic
68nature of scripting languages like Perl/TCL/REXX, but also support for
69general programming found in the more traditional languages like Icon,
70C, Modula,...
71
72Python may be FTP'd from the following sites:
73
74	ftp.cwi.nl in directory /pub/python (its "home site", also has a FAQ)
75	ftp.uu.net in directory /languages/python
76	gatekeeper.dec.com in directory /pub/plan/python/cwi
77
78
79Rationale
80---------
81
82Currently there is a mailing list with over 130 subscribers.
83The activity of this list is high, and to make handling the
84traffic more reasonable, a newsgroup is being proposed. We
85also feel that comp.lang.misc would not be a suitable forum
86for this volume of discussion on a particular language.
87
88
89Charter
90-------
91
92Comp.lang.python is an unmoderated newsgroup which will serve
93as a forum for discussing the Python computer language. The
94group will serve both those who just program in Python and
95those who work on developing the language. Topics that
96may be discussed include:
97
98	- announcements of new versions of the language and
99	  applications written in Python.
100
101	- discussion on the internals of the Python language.
102
103	- general information about the language.
104
105	- discussion on programming in Python.
106
107
108Discussion
109----------
110
111Any objections to this RFD will be considered and, if determined
112to be appropriate, will be incorporated. The discussion period
113will be for a period of 21 days after which the first CFV will be
114issued.
115