Developing software for IETF/IRTF groups

[Yakov Shafranovich <research@solidmatrix.com>]

Hi,

I was directed here by Harald from the IETF discussion list. I co-chair 
the ASRG at the IRTF and we have been looking around for some
software to help us manage our group's website. Due to the large size of
our RG and many proposals being submitted to it, we have been looking at
a document repository primarily, with some additional tools that might
help as well. Dave Willis of SIP WG has developed some document
management tools that are used on their site
(http://www.softarmor.com/sipwg/) which we have been considering using
as well. However, their tools do not interface with the IETF's Internet
draft database because they support other formats besides ASCII, PDF and
PS. The Internet drafts tools provided by the IETF itself have been
insufficient for our purposes. The DNSEXT group operates an issue 
tracker at (https://roundup.machshav.com/dnsext/index) which might 
useful for other groups as well. And I think that we would find many 
other WGs and RGs having these small hacks...

My questions to you folks is whether the IETF/IRTF has been considering
using or developing some form of software for managing working groups
and research groups aside from what is being used now. Have folks
considered taking existing open source software and adapting it for the
IETF? I am sure that there are plenty of coders and volunteers in the
IETF/IRTF that can cook something up.

Well, just a thought....

Yakov