Substantially rewrite a lot of pages

Rework our front page to be a lot more useful, as well as links to
getting involved and starting new projects.

Rewrite our mission statement to be more consistent with what we've
actually interpreted it as for the last ten years. This probably
requires further tweaking.

Make a first cut at improving the specs page, though this needs a lot
more work.

Mostly rewrite infrastructure-related pages to semi-accurately reflect
the current state of things.

LightDM has fully moved to GitHub now, so have their page just be a
redirect rather than an orphan.

1 files changed, 33 insertions, 15 deletions

diff --git a/index.mdwn b/index.mdwn
index 26cef6e1..f0dfea0f 100644
--- a/index.mdwn
+++ b/index.mdwn
@@ -1,41 +1,59 @@
 # Welcome to freedesktop.org
 
-freedesktop.org is open source / open discussion software projects working on interoperability and shared technology for X Window System desktops. The most famous [[X desktops|Desktops]] are [[GNOME|http://www.gnome.org]] and [[KDE|http://www.kde.org]], but developers working on any Linux/UNIX GUI technology are welcome to participate. 
+freedesktop.org hosts the development of free and open source software, focused on interoperability and shared technology for open-source graphical and desktop systems. We do not ourselves produce a desktop, but we aim to help others to do so.
 
-freedesktop.org is building a base platform for desktop software on Linux and UNIX.  The elements of this platform have become the backend for higher-level application-visible APIs such as Qt, GTK+, XUL, VCL, WINE, GNOME, and KDE.  The base platform is both [[software|Software]] and [[specifications|Specifications]]. 
+Our loose community of projects mostly produce [[software|Software]] and/or [[specifications|Specifications]].
 
 
-## Software
+## Software projects
 
-freedesktop.org hosts any "on-topic" software projects.  If you have a project that fits into our mission and needs hosting, please make a request using our [[bugzilla|http://bugs.freedesktop.org]]. Mailing lists about freedesktop software are hosted [[here|http://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo]]. 
+Most of our member projects produce software to be used as libraries or services. A full list is available at [[our software page|Software]].
 
+Much of the software we host is focused on drivers and middleware for graphics and media devices, inter-process communication and authorization, input and internationalization.
 
-## Standards
+All the software on freedesktop.org is available as open source and open to community contribution. The [[software page|Software]] explains how to report bugs and propose changes to each of these projects.
 
-freedesktop.org is not a formal standards organization, though some see a need for one that covers some of the areas we are working on.  For Linux operating system standards, look at the [[Linux Standard Base|http://www.linuxbase.org]] project.  [[The X.Org Foundation|http://www.x.org]] and the [[IETF|http://www.ietf.org]] are other groups that do formal standards. The [[Free Standards Group|http://www.freestandards.org]] is one group that publishes "de jure" standards for free software; freedesktop.org is loosely affiliated with the FSG. 
 
-Unlike a standards organization, freedesktop.org is a "collaboration zone" where ideas and code are tossed around, and de facto specifications are encouraged.  The primary entry to these discussions is the [[xdg mailing list|http://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/xdg]]. 
+## Specifications
+
+We also host discussion and development of specifications for interoperability. A full list is available at [[our specifications page|Specifications]].
+
+These specifications mostly cover low-level desktop issues, such as identifying file types, launching applications, and exchanging data between applications and desktops. They are often called 'XDG' specifications, as an acronym for the _Cross-Desktop Group_.
+
+freedesktop.org is not a formal standards body, and is not in itself a platform; we do not have a compliance test nor a certification. Anyone is free to use and implement the specifications on this site; the [[specifications page|Specifications]] explains how to propose changes and existing specifications, or entirely new specifications.
+
+
+## Infrastructure
+
+The infrastructure we use to provide these services to our projects is documented on [[our infrastructure page|Infrastructure]]. You can quickly get access to [[our GitLab instance|https://gitlab.freedesktop.org]] where most of our code lives, [[our mailing lists|https://lists.freedesktop.org]], or browse these wiki pages further to find out more.
 
 
 ## Getting Involved
 
-You can get involved in a number of ways.  See the [[MissionStatement]] for our principle activities.  See [[GettingInvolved]] for concrete suggestions on how you can contribute. See [[AccountRequests]] for information on how to obtain commit access to a project.  See [[NewProject]] for how to start a new project. 
+The first point of entry is to find the project you would like to work on, usually through our [[software|Software]] or [[specifications|Specifications]] page. Each project should have a clear link of how to report issues, discuss changes, and contribute back - this will almost certainly be on that project's page on [[our GitLab instance|https://gitlab.freedesktop.org]].
 
-## Contributor Covenant
+If you would like to create a new freedesktop.org project, or request hosting of an existing project you would like to move here, please see [[the new project page|NewProject]].
 
-freedesktop.org has adopted the [[Contributor Covenant|CodeOfConduct]] for the fora it provides. Please conduct yourself in an appropriate manner, avoiding abusive, bullying, and/or discriminatory behaviour. For more information, including where to report any inappropriate behaviour, please consult the [[CodeOfConduct]].
 
-## Privacy Policy
+## Code of Conduct
+
+freedesktop.org has adopted the Contributor Covenant for all the services we host. Please conduct yourself in an appropriate manner, avoiding abusive, bullying, and/or discriminatory behaviour. For more information, including where to report any inappropriate behaviour, please consult the full [[Code of Conduct|CodeOfConduct]].
+
+
+## Privacy and personal information
 
 When you use freedesktop.org services, you might disclose personally-identifying information to us. Our [[Privacy Policy|PrivacyPolicy]] explains how we collect and use this data.
 
-## Contacting freedesktop
 
-If you have any comments or questions about this site or its infrastructures, please send a message to the [[xdg list|http://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/xdg]] or on [[#freedesktop|https://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=freedesktop]] on Freenode.
+## Contact us
+
+If you have questions about the site itself or our infrastructure, the administrators can be reached on the [sitewranglers list|https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/sitewranglers]], or also on Freenode's #freedesktop IRC channel. Platform-wide announcements and discussions are generally on the [[freedesktop mailing list|https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/freedesktop]].
+
+Please note that it may take some time to answer your question on IRC, and we are also unlikely to be able to help with project-specific issues (e.g. 'why does ModemManager crash?'). Questions or issues with a specific member project should be directed to that project's own mailing list or bug tracker.
 
 
 ## Sponsors
 
-The freedesktop.org servers are generously hosted by [[Portland State University|http://www.pdx.edu]].  [[Intel|http://www.intel.com]], [[HP|http://www.hp.com]] and [[Google|http://www.google.com]] have sponsored the servers themselves and [[Collabora|http://www.collabora.com]] are sponsoring sysadmin time. 
+freedesktop.org is a completely volunteer organisation with no corporate backing or funding stream.
 
-This wiki is undergoing [[conversion]]. If you have a fd.o shell account, you can help!
+We would like to thank [[Portland State University|https://www.pdx.edu]] for providing physical and network hosting, as well as [[GitLab|https://about.gitlab.com]] for sponsoring some of our hosting costs. We are also grateful to [[Google|https://www.google.com]], [[Intel|https://www.intel.com]], and [[HP|https://www.hp.com]] for previously sponsoring some of our servers. These kind donations have made it possible for us to run the services we do.