Darkfrog brought up a good point to me on IM today about tags on the jME forum. Now that development has been moved into the hands of a "new generation", there are still some labeling on here that might confuse people or does not make sense. Specifically, he asked why I am still a forum Administrator here when I am also working on (and excited about) Ardor3D. While in my mind I still see myself as an active participant and advocate of Java gaming (and jME as well) I think he is right. Such roles, for myself and those who are not developing (only participating in the forums) may only serve to confuse people who have not been around here for very long. After thinking about what DF had to say, I wonder if perhaps it would help if we handed over things like Administrator and Moderator positions to people who are actually actively developing the code base? Taking that a step further, (my two cents here of course) it would also seem more fair if someone who is actually active in the community would volunteer to take on the burden of hosting the site and the costs of paying for that. At the very least, that would put the future direction of the project squarely in the hands of those who are actively working on it.
Thoughts?
agree, this should also be true for the developers (like myself)…
Can you provide a rough estimate of the costs presently incurred for hosting this site? Is it hosted on a server in your living room or is it hosted with a commercial provider?
It's hosted with a commercial provider. You would have to ask Mark about his specific costs, but I am under the impression that it is about $200 a year.
I might be able to pull some strings with some contacts I have here for hosting…
Any idea of the monthly data xfer requirements (or even what bandwidth the site host has allocated)?
It's currently being hosted by lunarpages
Though I brought up the concern relating Renanse being actively working on a competing engine (by virtue of providing the same functionality as jME) I have not contributed to jME actively in quite a long time myself, and if others feel like there should be a cut-off for developers that have not contributed in a certain time-frame I am willing to submit to that as well.
fwiw, I found where I could remove myself as an admin of the forums and did so.
same here 
Umm, before everyone removes themselves as an admin shouldn't one of the 'new generation' be given administrative rights??
As it is now, the rights Nymon and myself have only allow us to moderate the forums and control the googlecode stuff. What about all the demos (and such) and access to the (SMF) administrative tool panel?
Well, Mark is still an admin. And if you guys go ahead and take over hosting, you'll of course have every access then as well.
I'm now also mentioned as a "past developer" in the about info…
So what's the criteria for remaining a developer? Is it based on continuing contributions, or simply not working on a competing engine? 
I can't say I necessarily have any time in the near future (and that has been the case for quite a while now) for development on jME, but I keep holding out hope that I will in the future.
Would be good to know Mark's intentions going forward, also more information on the current hosting - when it is paid up for, how much is left in the donation pot etc.
Can only think of this as very positive for JME, we can look forward to having regular competetions, involve new developers ,focus on release 3 and bring in more contributed examples. Perhaps even rebrand it, changing the name to something more corporate acceptable.
Having it hosting it is not a big issue, just need someone to take the reins. If no one offers I will do it, I used to host the nightly build afterall.
theprism said:
Would be good to know Mark's intentions going forward, also more information on the current hosting - when it is paid up for, how much is left in the donation pot etc.
Can only think of this as very positive for JME, we can look forward to having regular competetions, involve new developers ,focus on release 3 and bring in more contributed examples. Perhaps even rebrand it, changing the name to something more corporate acceptable.
Having it hosting it is not a big issue, just need someone to take the reins. If no one offers I will do it, I used to host the nightly build afterall.
Monkeys aren't corporate acceptable?! :D
Any updates on this? Has anyone solved the hosting problem? I think I could pitch in some money for helping hosting this if needed!
I think we just need to hear back from mojomonk, IMO the best thing to do would be to keep the hosting where it is (lunarpages seems like a pretty good outfit).
As far as who maintains it this should be a group effort (also just my opinion, but it goes hand-in-hand with the community spirit of the 'new generation' ;)). Although one person will probably have to be named the owner and supply a credit card, I am willing to do that; but maybe this should be voted upon.
I have $40 left in my paypal account that I am willing to donate to hosting, so if $$ is an issue that should help a bit :).
I'm willing to turn over site management to someone who wants to actively maintain it. But with that would be the financial burden. jME is the communities now, so whatever the community feels is best will happen.
However, please don't rebrand. Understand what it means to rebrand something before you do.
How would people like to handle the 'switch over' of the web site then?
As I see it we have 3 options:
put someone in charge of it (this would require financial responsibility of the hosting, although donations may be used)
put developers in charge of it (part of being a developer would be an expectation to contribute to hosting)
put everyone in charge of it (hosting costs are paid from donations only; if there is no donations, hosting is not paid for)
(for option 1 should we have a vote or just nominate someone? theprism and myself have volunteered anyone else?)
Still waiting to hear what the financial burden will be exactly. I won't volunteer to do this, but of course I'll chip in.
I'm sure it can be covered with donations.
Just raise some attention when the funds get low, to animate people to donate a bit.