Re: GNU ELPA visibility

[Jambunathan K]

Stefan Monnier <address@hidden> writes:

> When looking for an Elisp package or feature, most people reach for
> their browser before reaching for M-x list-packages.
> But packages distributed via GNU ELPA won't show up because they're not
> visible to search engines.

One can always do a targeted search at elpa.gnu.org.  Most importantly,
the http://elpa.gnu.org pages are indexed by search engines.

    http://lmgtfy.com/?q=auctex+%20site%3Aelpa.gnu.org

May be the archive-contents file in the packages directory can contain
some `magic' string say `GNU ELPA' that one can use for search queries.
This will be particularly useful as packages grow and people start
relying more and more on browsers for locating packages.

A targetted mailing list (or discussion group) for GNU ELPA packages is
also a good idea for targetted search or to keeping abreast of latest
ANNouncements in package world.

> So I think we should setup some GNU ELPA web-site that lists the
> packages and where each package gets a web page which would be the
> canonical web page for that package (so people can link to it from, say,
> emacswiki) describing it (its README or "Commentary:") plus a link to
> its repository.

One can standardize around TeX or Org markup for package readme files.
Org can be exported to ascii, as well as HTML.  It essentially means
that one gets a readme file (`?' in `*Packages*' buffer) or it's own
web page.

>         Stefan
>
>

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