Communication Channels

There are many channels available to us to communicate with each other: Talk, Slack, the Wiki, the OpenMRS blog, and more. When discussion and the rationale for a decision can be easily found in any of these public, community spaces, it’s easier for anyone and everyone to follow and understand what was discussed, the decision that was taken, and the rationale for a particular decision. The OpenMRS community encourages wide participation in discussions and transparently make decisions by using community-centric channels, such as our Wiki and blog, Talk and Slack. 

Convention

This convention describes the primary, community-centric communication channels and how individuals, squads, and groups use each one in support of transparency, active participation and open decision-making.

Website

Our website is an external facing mechanism where content is communicated to potential supporters, whether this is a donor, a potential implementing partner or service provider, or an individual contributor. Our website also includes our blog, where news and announcements of general interest to the community is published. 

Wiki

Our Wiki houses our long form content. This includes:

• community conventions, 

• guidance for contributors/volunteer, 

• processes and how-to articles, 

• roadmaps,

• project descriptions,

• and more.

While our Wiki’s content is more dynamic than our website’s content, readers can have confidence that the content on the Wiki has been through discussion on Slack, at meetings, on Talk, and represents current community thinking.

Talk

Talk is the OpenMRS community’s version of a mailing list or Forum. “If it isn’t on Talk, it didn’t happen.” Talk facilitates discussion and collaboration across time zones. It is best suited for:

• making announcements, 

• sharing ideas and proposals

• engaging in asynchronous discussions

• updates/meeting recordings and notes 

• communicating decisions. 

Squads are encouraged to set up a single thread for their work where asynchronous, community discussion can happen openly.

Slack

Slack is an excellent channel for real-time conversation or quick Q&A. For squads and groups looking for a place for real-time conversation on a specific issue and for rapid iteration, consider using a dedicated channel in the OpenMRS Slack workspace to move your work ahead on a day-to-day basis.