Date: Wed, 15 May 1996 19:06:39 -0700 From: "Jordan K. Hubbard" <jkh@time.cdrom.com> To: Michael van der Westhuizen <tombi@iafrica.com> Cc: doc@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Gary Clark - FreeBSD doc contributions .... ?? Message-ID: <6735.832212399@time.cdrom.com> In-Reply-To: Your message of "Wed, 15 May 1996 23:56:30." <01BB42BA.FD185080@michaelw>
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> Gary, I am not sure if I am sending this to the right man, but if I am = > not, please forward it to the right person. Well, a few quick comments on this: 1. Gary's not FAQ maintainer anymore, that job being handled (usually :-) by Ollivier Robert. In sending to faq@freebsd.org, however, you did the right thing - Ollivier's no doubt seen your message already. 2. What you propose is actually more involved than a simple FAQ entry and really better directed at the larger "docs group", whom I've cc'd on this message (and preserved your message below for). 3. The format in which we accept new submissions is actually SGML, not plain text (though we'll accept it if someone else is willing to play "formatter"), HTML or WORD format. See existing Handbook and FAQ sources for real-world examples if you're totally unfamiliar with SGML. Thanks! Jordan > > I recently got hold of the June 1995 release of FreeBSD 2.0.5, since I = > had already decided (long time ago) > that a UNIX based operating system was the ideal thing to learn to use. = > Now, I know I am not completely up to date with the system, but I = > noticed (as you guys pointed out with the "this FAQ is weak, what can I = > do about it?" line) that the documentation is weak - especially for = > users who are converting from a DOS / Windows / Windows 95 environment. = > As can be expected with such a powerful operating system, no-one is = > going to hold your hand and configure things for you, you must be a = > confident enough user to dive into a very different operating system, = > very much not knowing the fist thing to type when you get there! > > Naturally this will be a problem for many users as UNIX (and UNIX based = > operating systems :-)) are not very easy to learn. Now I have leapt into = > the deep end myself and I am slowly finding my way right (thanks to the = > handbook - especially the kernel configuration section! - that = > particular part is very well written). > > Anyway, part of what I do for a living is write (and regularly update) a = > Win95 support FAQ. The rest of what I do is support DOS / Windows / = > Windows 95 systems. Now, what I am keen to contribute, would not be a = > section to the FAQ or the Handbook, but an "up and running" guide for = > MS-DOS / Windows users (I would say "dual-booters", but that has bad = > connotations :-)). Now this may take a while, as I am still learning a = > lot of the configuration details (read - most of them). But I feel that = > I would be able to put together a clear, concise document (almost a = > "dummies" guide) to getting started with FreeBSD for DOS and Windows = > users. In fact I am quite keen to do this as I feel that it would = > minimise the "lost" and "helpless" feelings associated when seeing a = > foreign command prompt for the first time. To this end, I would need = > contribution on matters that I cannot experience first-hand (due to my = > system configuration). I mean, this has all got me down to the situation = > where I am sitting with borrowed SCO documentation and trying commands = > and advice from that! I feel that this is probably a common situation = > and one which could be easily avoided with a document such as the one I = > am describing. > > I can furnish any documentation in plain text (surprise surprise), HTML, = > packaged HTML (a zip file for downloading and easy offline viewing and = > reference?), Lotus AmiPro (again for offline viewing and reference), and = > Microsoft Word 6.0 / 7.0 format (once again blah blah blah). I feel that = > the advantages of users being able to view documents in an environment = > (and format) they are comfortable with is very important. > > Let me know what you think about my idea. I am quite sure that this is = > the best way in which I can contribute to the project and it would be a = > pleasure for me to contribute in some way. (besides, I am actually happy = > (!) to have given up half my hard drive to FreeBSD and I would love to = > document my explorations of this strange new world !). > > Again, give me a shout at tombi@iafrica.com with any feedback on this = > idea, I am eagerly awaiting your reply ! > > Regards > *******Michael van der Westhuizen******* > ************tombi@iafrica.com************* >
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