Python Miro Community status: 01-22-2011

, Will Kahn-Greene | share this (mastodon)
Note: This is an old post in a blog with a lot of posts over a long span of time. The world has changed, technologies have changed, and I've changed. It's likely this is out of date, the code doesn't work, the ideas haven't aged well, or the ideas were terrible to begin with. Let me know if you think this is something that needs updating.

I took a hiatus from all things computer-related from the end of November through December on account of a new member of the family showing up. I'm back now and I've slimmed down the list of things I'm involved in so that things like Python Miro Community can get more of my spare time.

What is Python Miro Community?

Before I get too much further, Python Miro Community is a web-site that indexes Python-related videos regardless of where those videos exist on the Internet. For the most part, we're collecting and indexing conference videos: PyCon, DjangoCon, KiwiPycon, PyOhio, PyCon AU, .... For each video I pull as much metadata as I can. This makes the videos searchable and more useful for people looking for stuff.

Added KiwiPyCon 2009 videos

Over the last week, I pulled in the KiwiPyCon 2009 videos. I also talked with Tim about KiwiPyCon 2010 videos. I'm looking forward to posting those as well. I don't know what the estimated timeframe looks like, yet.

Current queue of things to do

My queue of things to do is pretty much the same as it was in November:

  • checking feeds for valid enclosures

  • importing a few lightning talks I've been sitting on

  • DjangoConf EU

  • Kiwi PyCon

  • PyCon APAC 2010

  • PyCon India

  • fixing video listing templates so they're all listing videos the "long way"

  • converting Python Basics and Advanced Python to playlists

  • keeping an eye on Universal Subtitles--looking forward to adding that to the site

Writing scripts for automated data checking turns out to be impossible to do without getting some additional functionality into Miro Community. I've created some bugs for the features I need, but I think I'm going to have to implement them myself on account of the MC crew being very short-staffed. That's fine, except I haven't had time to do it, yet.

One thing in that list that I'm really excited about is adding support for Universal Subtitles. I think that'll:

  1. kick ass

  2. potentially add a lot of value to the conference video

Going to need to get some funding

Also, Miro Community is soon switching to a tiered service model. Between costs for running PMC going up (zero dollars per month to some amount per month) and PMC really needing more of my time, I'm considering doing a fund-raising month possibly with a KickStarter project. The other possibility is to add ads to the site, but I'm pretty sick of advertising and I can't imagine any of you like it much either. If you have any thoughts on that, let me know.

Exciting things

I'm seeing an increasing number of hits coming from StackOverflow. I think it's really exciting that people are helping other people learn by sending them links to videos.

That's it for this status report!

Want to comment? Send an email to willkg at bluesock dot org. Include the url for the blog entry in your comment so I have some context as to what you're talking about.