From owner-freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Jul 19 10:03:54 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org Received: by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix, from userid 815) id 95FA516A4CF; Mon, 19 Jul 2004 10:03:54 +0000 (GMT) Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 10:03:54 +0000 From: Murray Stokely To: doc@freebsd.org Message-ID: <20040719100354.GA90972@hub.freebsd.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.1i X-GPG-Key-ID: 1024D/0E451F7D X-GPG-Key-Fingerprint: E2CA 411D DD44 53FD BB4B 3CB5 B4D7 10A2 0E45 1F7D Subject: Creating an Admin Handbook X-BeenThere: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: Documentation project List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 10:03:54 -0000 I think the time has come to split up the Handbook. It has grown unchecked for far too long and it has been several years since we last moved chapters out of the Handbook (and into the Developers Handbook in that case). The Handbook is currently organized as 5 distinct DocBook : * Getting Started * Common Tasks * System Administration * Network Communication * Appendices I would like to split the Handbook into a User Handbook and an Administrator Handbook. The first two would belong to the user handbook, the second two would belong to the administrator handbook, and the appendices would be shared with both. That is exactly the split that FreeBSD Mall has been using in Perforce for our third edition Handbook volumes. Volume I is the User Handbook as defined above, and Volume II is the Admin Handbook. I think it makes sense for the Project to accept this work we have done in Perforce back into the main CVS tree. I propose that the User Handbook remain as 'handbook' in CVS, and that the admin chapters be repo-copied to 'books/admin-handbook'. Each of the two books would then be in the more manageable 400-600 page range in printed form. I can perform all of this work, ask for the repo copies, update all cross links between chapters to use new entities to link between volumes, and update the prefaces and frontmatter for both volumes. I can do this in a single day so as to minimize disruption for others working on the Handbook(s). The preface and frontmatter of the index.html at www.freebsd.org/handbook would contain a prominent pointer to the new volume so that people looking for content can still find it easily. Is there any reason not to go ahead with such a split? - Murray