Create a site to connect residents and developers

[ryanbriones]

I'd like to create a site that allows regular people, residents of Chicago, to submit problems or potential solutions to problems that could be solved with technology. The site would allow civic developers to browse these ideas, interact with the idea creator, and create project to help solve the problem.

[cgansen]

This is pretty great. Is your prototype still online? That might be a good starting point for discussions.

[ryanbriones]

@cgansen Do you mean http://ryanbriones.com/civic-needs-ui/?

[ryanbriones]

I got together with @cgansen @srobbin @GovInTrenches and @danxoneil and did a little brainstorming. Based on the original idea, we came up with this:

• Resident signs in with Github account
• Resident submits problem by filling out form a la http://ryanbriones.com/civic-needs-ui/
• When resident submits form, data is extracted and submitted into a Github Issue in ryanbriones/civicneeds and is tagged "need"
• Developers/Residents can browse problems via Civic Needs site or Github
• Conversation facilitated by Github Issues comments (both from Github and Civic Needs site) on solving the problem
• When project has been fleshed out, developer/resident can choose to have Civic Needs create a project on Github that will allow tight integration with Civic Needs app including repo with civic.json -- a file to describes solution and it's reusability
• When a project is finished in success (or a solution already exists for a problem), developer/resident can mark the project as "accepted" allowing for documentation of problem->solution and the ability to list civic development successes

[ryanbriones]

Did a quick of test of querying Github Issues at the National Civic Day of Hacking: https://gist.github.com/ryanbriones/5691547

[shua123]

If one of the goals is to reach out beyond the current Open Gov/developer community, requiring a github account seems like an unnecessary barrier of entry for many residents.

Maybe allow login in with github account if you have one, but people that don't, have some other login. I'm not sure how that would link into the github issues (a dummy "public user" github account maybe?)

[srobbin]

I do like the idea of being inclusive to those not comfortable with Github, though I'm concerned about allowing anonymous participation. Reputation is a good way to keep the community positive and productive.

Maybe we can find a way to include Facebook auth in Phase 2?

[ryanbriones]

@shua123 @srobbin possibly the distinction here is someone we expect to follow on with action (see the process from idea->solution) and someone who just wants to add an idea with no follow on. I feel ok with saying "if you want to be part of the process, you need to create an account."

I also want to see what can be done to make the process of signing up for an account simpler for non-devs.