Re: Documentation for total beginners
On Thu, Apr 19, 2001 at 12:01:14AM -0500, Jason Pepas wrote:
> wait till will gets wind of this...
look out... ! :)
> well, here are some resources you might not have known about:
>
> http://www.aokiconsulting.com/debian-survival/
> http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/debian/chapter/
> http://newbiedoc.sourceforge.net/
>
> there are a few more which you probably already know about mentioned on
> my website <shameless plug> http://jason.pepas.com/linux/ </shameless
> plug>
>
> jason
> jason@pepas.com
jason and others have given you some good pointers.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "-" <radsky@ncia.net>
> To: <debian-user@lists.debian.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 7:26 PM
> Subject: Documentation for total beginners
> > I have a few prospects that I'm trying to talk into doing
> > Linux, Debian in particular. The problem is they have very
> > little experience except using MS Windows for internet and
> > games. I've written some very basic instructions for them
> > just so they can at least log on and navigate through the
> > directories. Much of my own experience comes from trial and
> > error.
given the development of the *nix arena, trial and error is what
you should /expect/. it's been evolving over 30+ years, from a
broad assortment of different people from all over the globe,
each with his/her own priorities and insights. some use "man"
others document with "info" and then there's some that don't
document at all...
> > I haven't seen any documentation that is suitable for anyone
> > with their limited experience, nothing on internet, not in
> > bookstores, and not in boxed sets. Everything seems to be
> > geared towards people who, colloquially speaking, at least
> > know how to multiply large numbers, whereas my proteges and I
> > are just learning how to add single numbers.
you're preaching to the choir!
> > Does anyone know of any documentation that doesn't require
> > extensive experience to comprehend? I don't consider myself
> > to be an expert so I could benefit from that kind of
> > documentation too.
> >
> > Should I tell my friends to forget Linux for now and come
> > back after they have experience with other operating systems
> > because otherwise, you can't get there from here?
here's the problem:
people are familiar with macOS or windo~1, and expect that kind
of interaction with linux. ain't gonna happen...
those platforms are developed top-down from their respective
board rooms, and as a new feature is added, the board room also
dictates that their explanation team keep the online guide
up-to-date with the new features.
with linux, you can create a script that i enjoy, and i can take
a crack at creating a manpage for it. i might give that up and go
for info instead if i like its features better. then again, i may
just put up a web page that you, the author of the script,
doesn't know about, which means it's not even mentioned in your
source code.
linux is a cacophony of individuals who share an overlapping
passion; it's not a structured team of "let's do it this way, and
that way".
solution A --
maybe to get your allies on board, yuo might install something
gooey (spelled g-u-i) as GNOME or KDE, and apt-get install a slew
of point-and-click games and text editors and maybe even a
spreadsheet or two, and a browser. if you get them set up without
them having to know about the back-end, it shouldn't be so
intimidating.
then, as they outgrow their initial setup, they may find that
they want to try A or B or C, and how does this work, and can i
make it do Q differently, and can i turn of P as well?
solution B --
<flame-bait>eazel or mac os X or beOS</>
solution C --
stick with windo~1 or macos
solution D --
okay, i have a reputation to uphold: join the newbiedoc project
and help us MAKE the documentation you're looking for.
:)
http://newbiedoc.sourceforge.net/
--
DEBIAN NEWBIE TIP:
Confused about using "apt-get" to keep your Debian UP-TO-DATE?
See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newbiedoc/files/apt-get-intro.html
...from will@serensoft.com
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