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Why is any website less accessible than any other website? Further being realistic anyone who doesn't know how to navigate Github (or can't figure it out), is v

Why is any website less accessible than any other website? Further being realistic anyone who doesn't know how to navigate Github (or can't figure it out), is very unlikely to ever care about this data. The people who do care are the intermediaries who put it in a more consumable form (e.g. mobile apps, etc)

polemic 14y ago
That isn't true. As another commenter noted, I work for Koordinates. Our top data users, by far, are Engineering and planning consultancies, architects and universities. The first step to releasing data is releasing the data. 3rd party applications are nice to have, but they second-guess the use case. A developer can grab some data and use it to build an app, regardless of the source. But github is a blocker for the vast majority of the audience that is interested in ad hoc analysis, for whatever reason.
- saraid216 14y ago
  OTOH, GitHub does have an API and automate-able mechanisms for submitting pull requests. An app could definitely be built simply for displaying relevant (say, nearby location of mobile device) information and allowing the user to correct any mistakes they see and pushing that as a request for fixing it.
- corresation 14y ago
  The first step to releasing data is releasing the data. And they released the data. I still am not understanding what the problem is with github. You don't HAVE to code to grab the data.
  - adamstac 14y ago
    I agree. GitHub gives developer access, but at the same time the source can be browsed, linked to, or downloaded as a zip. Too easy.
CJefferson 14y ago
I am very suprised that you think that "anyone who doesn't know how to navigate Github(or can't figure it out)" (interesting use of brackets there) wouldn't want this data. Why would knowledge of development, and git, have anything at all to do with if someone wanted this kind of data? I can't imagine why you would draw a connection.
- corresation 14y ago
  Why would knowledge of development, and git, have anything at all to do with if someone wanted this kind of data? I can't imagine why you would draw a connection. It is raw data. It isn't a brochure or a printable map or anything else directly consumable. I am making an eminently obvious statement, so why is this surprising to you? Secondly, what is so funny about the parenthesis? What is your point? I sense that you're trying hard to be snotty in some way, as if you've done your part against elitism, but the end result is rather bizarre.
  - CJefferson 14y ago
    You are right, I was just irritable, and was projecting onto you a "anyone who knows anything knows git" mentality, which in retrospect you didn't deserve, sorry. I still think that I know quite a few people who love raw data, love excel, and still wouldn't want to learn git or github, but I was reading that into your message perhaps unfairly.

polemic 14y ago

That isn't true. As another commenter noted, I work for Koordinates. Our top data users, by far, are Engineering and planning consultancies, architects and universities. The first step to releasing data is releasing the data. 3rd party applications are nice to have, but they second-guess the use case. A developer can grab some data and use it to build an app, regardless of the source. But github is a blocker for the vast majority of the audience that is interested in ad hoc analysis, for whatever reason.

saraid216 14y ago
OTOH, GitHub does have an API and automate-able mechanisms for submitting pull requests. An app could definitely be built simply for displaying relevant (say, nearby location of mobile device) information and allowing the user to correct any mistakes they see and pushing that as a request for fixing it.
corresation 14y ago
The first step to releasing data is releasing the data. And they released the data. I still am not understanding what the problem is with github. You don't HAVE to code to grab the data.
- adamstac 14y ago
  I agree. GitHub gives developer access, but at the same time the source can be browsed, linked to, or downloaded as a zip. Too easy.

CJefferson 14y ago

I am very suprised that you think that "anyone who doesn't know how to navigate Github(or can't figure it out)" (interesting use of brackets there) wouldn't want this data. Why would knowledge of development, and git, have anything at all to do with if someone wanted this kind of data? I can't imagine why you would draw a connection.

corresation 14y ago
Why would knowledge of development, and git, have anything at all to do with if someone wanted this kind of data? I can't imagine why you would draw a connection. It is raw data. It isn't a brochure or a printable map or anything else directly consumable. I am making an eminently obvious statement, so why is this surprising to you? Secondly, what is so funny about the parenthesis? What is your point? I sense that you're trying hard to be snotty in some way, as if you've done your part against elitism, but the end result is rather bizarre.
- CJefferson 14y ago
  You are right, I was just irritable, and was projecting onto you a "anyone who knows anything knows git" mentality, which in retrospect you didn't deserve, sorry. I still think that I know quite a few people who love raw data, love excel, and still wouldn't want to learn git or github, but I was reading that into your message perhaps unfairly.