Date: Sat, 25 Dec 1999 01:21:21 -0800 (PST) From: Mike s <god@yahoo.com> To: Colin <cwass99@home.com> Cc: stable@freebsd.org Subject: Re: bugs in the handbook. (FreeBSD Portal) Message-ID: <19991225092121.14043.qmail@web505.mail.yahoo.com>
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well yes i agree that the linux Documentation project is along the lines of what i am talking about, but again take linux.com for example. IF we had volunteers who had knowledge of the latest web development resources/languages such as sPHP we can start a site that is based mostly on volunteers as is linux.com Awhile back, there was a discussion on this questions and this mailing list about not nearly enough newbie documentation. So i guess we are a lacking in a few areas. but, its planting the seed that counts. again, not to compete at all with freebsd.org a separate entity entirely. besides, a lot of people who would commit to -docs don't have the knowledge or patience to learn the SGML structure if the site itself. I'd like to see a site going up utilizing php/mysql for fast and convenient site development. I guess i will start by saying that I am willing to donate a considerable ammount of time to working on this project. If anyone else is interested in helping out send me an email with subject "FreeBSD Portal Volunteer" and once we reach a sufficient ammount of volunteers. ( say 5 or 6 ) well, we can get things under way. Of course i am not looking for any financial gain only contribute to the success of my OS of choice. forward this email to any web developers or knowledgable FreeBSD Users and lets plant a seed. happy holidays mike god@yahoo.com --- Colin <cwass99@home.com> wrote: > I don't think we don't care about the > documentation, that strikes me as > something of an oversimplification. There are 2 > distinct problems here: > 1) The peole who know enough about the system to > document it properly > generally don't have the time (or > inclination...gotta love those programmers ;)) > to spend on documentation. They're too busy fixing > the problems that turn up > regularly or adding enhancements (which is where > most of the problems start ;)). > 2) The peole who are most willing to spend time on > the documentation don't have > the specific knowledge to do it. They are the one's > who would like to be > reading the docs. > Yes, I know it's inappropriate to generalize > that much, but I think you > get the idea. There is, of course, quite a lot of > good documentation out there > already, most of it accessible on-line. There is a > definite need for ongoing > improvement and upgrading, but I don't think that > surprises anyone. > There's an interesting article at > http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue4_12/bezroukov/index.html > that talks > about the problems of documentation in the Open > Software world. Actually, it > is just a really good second look at the "Cathedral > and Bazaar" with a section > on documentation. The upshot is that we cannot > accept the code as sufficient > documentation for something this complex and there > is a definite need for a > complete higher level view. > To meet that need there are several really good > resources including "The > Design and Implementation of the 4.4BSD Operating > System", and "The Complete > FreeBSD". There are,as well, several really good > on-line reources, not least > of which is the FreeBSD HowTo. I know there are > more (not including the general > Unix books) but titles escape me right now. > Add the books to the FreeBSD specific web sites > we already have, and i'm > not sure the problem is lacking docs, rather > slightly out of date docs due to an > ambitious schedule of updates and releases. > To start adding additional "Home of the Docs" > sites would, IMHO, actually > add to the confusion and difficulties. We would be > much better served by > people submitting pr's (where appropriate ;)) or > suggestions that could be > integrated into the existing docs. I'm not convinced > (having wandered aimlessly > down that road) the Linux style of documentation > (1000's of sites, no real > organization ;)) is the best bet here. > > On 23-Dec-1999 Mike s wrote: > > Well, as i can see not many people care about the > > documentation, or at least providing FreeBSD users > > .......etc....................... > _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-stable" in the body of the message
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