Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 17:00:06 -0400 From: Jerry McAllister <jerrymc@msu.edu> To: Robert Huff <roberthuff@rcn.com> Cc: Jerry McAllister <jerrymc@msu.edu>, Wojciech Puchar <wojtek@wojtek.tensor.gdynia.pl>, Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de>, "freebsd-questions@freebsd.org" <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>, utisoft@gmail.com Subject: Re: Date representation as YY/DDD or YYYY/DDD Message-ID: <20090604210006.GA33278@gizmo.acns.msu.edu> In-Reply-To: <18984.11239.817035.710659@jerusalem.litteratus.org> References: <alpine.BSF.2.00.0906040113270.28607@wojtek.tensor.gdynia.pl> <8BA60025-A005-4E38-9D5E-A9C11AB3C17C@strauser.com> <alpine.BSF.2.00.0906041007400.31357@wojtek.tensor.gdynia.pl> <b79ecaef0906040223q34875f54wfb523c2cc893373e@mail.gmail.com> <20090604173535.984e32d6.freebsd@edvax.de> <alpine.BSF.2.00.0906041754580.34564@wojtek.tensor.gdynia.pl> <b79ecaef0906040920y4af8a67ck3f7a765a0f0c21fa@mail.gmail.com> <20090604174510.GA32547@gizmo.acns.msu.edu> <alpine.BSF.2.00.0906041947550.35646@wojtek.tensor.gdynia.pl> <18984.11239.817035.710659@jerusalem.litteratus.org>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
On Thu, Jun 04, 2009 at 04:17:43PM -0400, Robert Huff wrote: > > Wojciech Puchar writes: > > > > Well, man pages are good at formally documenting the how > > > of use, but they often are not so helpful on the why and > > > wherefor of use. > > > > for me it's exactly for this - to know how and why to use. > > It is important to understand "man" is a _reference_, not a > _tutorial_. It's great if you need to refresh your memory of the Yes, I know. That is why some other additional for is also useful. I don't really propose changing man, but do often wish for some other form. Info does that a little, but still is often inadequate for some comprehension of the why and wherefor of something that I have never mucked with. I am not sure a 'tutorial' is it either because they tend to take a person through a couple of particular tasks using the item in question, but still not discuss much of the why and wherefor. ////jerry > "q" flag, or check for exit codes, or check the order of parameters > to the _fillintheblank() library call. But if you're trying to > figure out how to do X, or even how to do X correctly using this > object ... many of the pages can leave you with the feeling you're > stupider than you actually are. > Being a tutorial may not be what "man" was designed for. But > until there's a designated and widely promoted text-only replacement > it will be used as one. > > > Robert Huff >
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?20090604210006.GA33278>