Re: Linux is not for consumers!
On Thu, 11 Dec 2003 18:47:15 -0500
Roberto Sanchez <rcsanchez97@yahoo.es> wrote:
> s. keeling wrote:
> > Incoming from Richard Kimber:
> >
> >>On Thu, 11 Dec 2003 12:07:23 -0600
> >>"Michael Martinell" <mike@dakotasioux.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>That's why the people doing the documentation should be the
> >power-user>>who is not familiar with every intricate detail, and has
> >had to struggle>>and learn the system. That is the person who can
> >usually explain things>>in a
> >>
> >>This sounds like an excuse for programmers not to document their
> >programs.
> >
> >
> > Programmers need no excuse for this. They know how it works. If
> > you think it needs documentation, go ahead and write it.
> >
> >
> >>But I feel strongly that to overcome the original point in the
> >thread,>many app developers need to give more attention to the
> >documentation, and>indeed the user interface, and a little less to
> >adding that "nice new>exciting" (and undocumented) feature.
> >
> >
> > Note the smiley: Go to hell! :-)
> >
> > If I were being paid to do this kind of thing, my boss might have a
> > more convincing argument as to why I should document my work.
> > However, for something I'm giving away for nothing, there's no such
> > obligation that I can see.
> >
> > Go join the LDP and fix this apparent deficiency yourself if you
> > think it's a problem.
> >
> >
>
> I'm sorry but you are way off base. A lawyer that does pro bono work,
> or a doctor that volunteers at a public clinic, is not absolved of
> maintaining proper documentation (case files or medical charts). We
> (software developers) are (or at least should be considered)
> professionals. I would think that if you are just going to half-ass
> the job the community would be better off without your "efforts."
>
This is the crux.
It's not just the immediate comprehension level within the individual
that is at stake here, it's the advancement of the community as a whole.
The faster a newbie can learn, the more quickly he/she is going to be in
a position to feed back into that community. Any act or ommission that
retards the learning process, retards and thereby weakens the community
as a whole.
I'm involved in a project to implement reduced term copywrite, cross
spectrum, but most specifically within the educational resource factor.
When discussing terms of licencing, most of the people involved wanted
to restrict access to educational resources to registered educational
institutions.
When individuals, on a self-educating regime are denied access to
materials, it's not just class victimization. These individuals are
members of society, and if they do not receive an education that
enhances their existence within that society, then it degrades society
in more ways than one.
Regards,
David.
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