way of inviting users

[hartsick]

right now I just manually add people I've asked to test the site, by logging onto server and running a rake task.

ideally there would be a different way for inviting people, but I think what that looks like depends on how the community should grow. here's a few examples:

• anyone can register an account, and approval is subject to mods
• anyone can register an account, and approval can be given by anyone
• anyone on site can invite another person, subject to no approval
• anyone on site can invite another person, subject to some approval (?)
• mods on site can invite another person, subject to no approval

what might we want this to look like? are there other models to consider?

[hartsick]

first pass! everyone gets one new invite every month, no accrual.

• if you have an invite, a yellow banner appears on topics index
  • people can dismiss banner
• if someone is able to invite someone, they put in their email
  • maybe some guidance or justification? ideas to change?
• if person accepts invite, they fill in their username and password
  • regardless of whether someone accepts invite, the inviter can invite no more
• at beginning of month, everyone gets a new invite

[hartsick]

Todo:

• Update email templates
• Add a little blurb on the invite page about how feature works and things to think about
• Orientation for invited people
• Waiting period for new users before they can invite