Re: Newb Perspective on Docs [Was: ISP converting to automation withLDAP]

Victor Duchovni:
> On Wed, Jun 08, 2005 at 01:50:47PM -0400, Ritchie, Josiah S. wrote:
>
> > Yes, yes. This is the kind of idea that would be of great use. Thanks
> > for the assurance that I'm not alone in this. I think it could really
> > improve the community. Afterall, more questions could be answered with,
> > "You display a lack of understanding that this doc could fix (as opposed
> > to buy the book, it will take a week to arrive) :-)". That would mean
> > building up users who can help themselves instead of just yanking them
> > along.
> >
>
> This will likely not happen. Good technical writing is difficult, and
> documenting complex integrated systems requires expert contributors and
> a good editor. The current patch-work of howtos (with no way to tell
> the good from the bad unless you already know the answers) is the best
> you will get from informal efforts.

Corrolary: you're more likely to get expert input for a book than
for an informal document, even when books have longer lead times
and are likely to be outdated before printed.

Wietse