External links in stable docs should be under Ubuntu control

I agree that we have a problem with external links, and it would be extremely easy to implement this, but could redirection cause any problems for users?

This seems like a good candidate for a spec.

https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/gutsy

I've just been trying to start writting one - but can't find either a template or a guide. Could you help me with that before I file a bug about that problem?

Sure. It should just be a matter of using the SpecTemplate when you create the wiki page for the blueprint, and just filling-in each category on the template.

Could you let me know the name of the spec too? I'm interested in working on this one.

[Expired for ubuntu-docs (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

This shouldn't have been automatically closed.

Here's an example. I've just been reading Full Circle (http://fullcirclemagazine.org/) and noticed that they have implemented exactly what I am thinking would solve this ubuntu-docs issue. In issue #5 you can read the satisfying news "SCO Applies for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection, Blames Linux". they do not link to the actual story (it's link might change) but instead link to http://url.fullcirclemagazine.org/baf9bd so they can change the redirect if they need to.

This is now a blueprint: https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/external-links-redirects - can this bug be closed now?

Could you leave it open for a while please? Just until this issue has been discussed more thoroughly.

It has been several months since the last reply - could this bug be closed now, and further discussion be about the blueprint?

Still hoping for a reply, yo

Closing the bug, since we have a spec. Thanks for the reminder, Mads.

I don't think that having a spec makes the bug invalid. I've linked the spec to the bug, and marked it as "wishlist" to show that it is a feature request for the future.

Any interest in fixing this bug? Personally I find it difficult to see whether the work involved will really give us much benefit. If there is anyone interested in taking it up, that's great, but otherwise I think we should close it as "Won't Fix", in the light of the passage of time since it was reported.

I think that one thing to remember with this bug is that it will
almost certainly raise it's head again, especially as Ubuntu gets more
coverage. Having an Ubuntu controlled redirection URL is reasonably
trivial if the commitment is there.

There hasn't been any interest in fixing this bug and it hasn't caused us any serious problems so I'm going to close it as Won't Fix.

I would rather it was left as 'Wishlist' simply because I think it's a
reasonable idea. But you guys decide.