Hi Fedora docs translators and writers,
After a discussion with shaiton following today's Fedora docs meeting, I propose to formalize the process of publishing Fedora docs translations.
BACKGROUND
Currently, we don't have in place a formal process for publishing docs translations. This means that we don't make it clear enough to our guide owners and translators what and when should be published.
PROPOSAL
The proposal is to create a new Bugzilla component and a group of default assignees for publishing translations to docs.fedoraproject.org.
The group is consisted of members of the docs-publishers group (and possibly also other people interested).
To get the translations published, Fedora translators are first required to file a bug against the proposed component. This applies to any translation of any document hosted on docs.fedoraproject.org. Then the members of the proposed group resolve the bug by publishing the requested translation.
RATIONALE
By using Bugzilla for the purposes of publishing translations, we can easily keep track of what translations the translators actually want to publish, at what time, and who is working with translators on publishing the translations.
This makes the whole publishing process much more transparent.
At the same time, we satisfy the demand from some of our community members to integrate the Bugzilla tool more deeply into our docs workflow.
To reduce a maintenance burden for individual docs owners, translators don't file a bug directly against the relevant guide component in the Fedora Documentation product.
REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSLATORS
This requires each of the Fedora translation teams to have at least one member communicating with the proposed docs publishers group in Bugzilla.
However, translators don't have to learn new tools and rather complex processes specifically for Fedora docs, like working with Git, setting up an environment for syncing translations between Transifex.net and Git, or publishing to docs.fedoraproject.org with Publican.
NOTE
This proposal doesn't necessarily affect the translation teams that are already publishing their docs translations. They can continue with their existing workflow if it suits them and they have the manpower to do so. In other words, this proposed process is completely optional for them.
COMMENTS
Your comments, thoughts, or ideas are most welcome!
Thanks, Petr Kovar