On Sat, Feb 03, 2007 at 02:31:50AM +0200, Andrei Popescu wrote:
On Fri, 2 Feb 2007 15:40:24 -0500
Douglas Allan Tutty <dtutty@porchlight.ca> wrote:
[...]
For example, the debian-reference is supposed to be a "post-install
user's guide".
[...]
I have yet to find a good book that focuses on those basic skills.
Mostly, they cover that briefly before telling you how to
(proverbally) write a web page or something.
Do you mean something like this?
http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm
http://tille.xalasys.com/training/tldp/
Those could be listed as links to follow, but I'm thinking of something
that started with a note that there is no _one_ definitive source of
information on linux in general or debian specifically. It could
discuss how to find information and perhaps a discription of the steps
to follow to install debian (ending with a point to the approriate page
on the website).
It would tell people that before trying to install they should print out
the installation manual and tell them how to find help (google
site:lists.debian.org) before posting a question on the mailing lists.
It could then give links like the ones you gave and to the documentation
pages of the web site.
It would also be good to give a link to (or the actual document if it
doesn't exist) something for people who have never had access to a
computer before (other than perhaps as a user of someone else's). E.g,
a guided tour of a typical PC from the perspective of getting ready to
install Debian. I know that the installation manual tells you what you
need to know but it doesn't necessarily tell you how to find this out if
you don't already have and understand an OS installed on it.
It would be good if this was both web-browsable and available for
download (pdf). The pdf to include in apendicies the more important
documents otherwise linked.
I think it important that the document reflect best-practices from the
start and be in a progressive manner.
These are probably two projects: a new page on the website and a
document for people starting computing from scratch.