On Mar 5, 2007, at 1:16 PM, barduck wrote:
> I didn't say that newbies can't contribute, but don't expect them to > come and start writing documentation or submitting tickets as soon as > they arrive. And more importantly, don't get upset when they don't. > They won't. That's your opinion, I suppose. I don't expect them all to jump in and lend a hand at first. I *do* expect them (or anyone) to give me specific feedback if they plan on critiquing anything related to this effort. If you're not at least trying to log a ticket, its honestly wasted breath. If you aren't going to pony up some sort of detailed ticket on an issue, please keep your criticisms to yourself, as all your doing is attacking people who are working for your benefit. That sounds harsh, but after nearly two years of doing this, that's honestly how I feel. If you're here just to nay-say, then I invite you to leave. If you're here, noticing how horrible the docs are, you'll need to let us know where (as specifically as you can) where things are hurting. Log a ticket, and it'll get done eventually. > Because a newbie comes to a project with a mentality of "Is this > project worth it? What is there for *ME*?", nobody comes to a project > they are not familiar with thinking "I want to contribute". So yes, > they will ask the same questions over and over, they will ignore the > faqs and search feature, they will seem clueless and sometimes rude > and demanding, that's how it is. > > It is the job of the existing community to make them feel welcome > despite their annoyances, to make them feel comfortable with the > project and to make them want to stick around. Then, some of them will > stay and move toward a "hey, this is cool! I want to contribute!" way > of thinking. And a big part of this falls on the documentation, > articles and examples. > > The importance of newbies, as John wrote, is by providing fresh and > unbiased eyes. They raise issues you long learned to live with, their > questions turn into faqs. And it is up to you to use this information > efficiently. </preaching type="to the choir"> > So while saying "if you are not happy with it, help to make it better" > response makes perfect sense in your eyes (and it is, I was on that > side of the fence as well), it may not come across that way to someone > who just arrived and trying to make the first steps - "Me? Help to > make it better? Why? I just got here, I am not even sure all this is > right for me". That's why we're having this discussion now. To anyone who is asking this question, all you need to do is search our Trac system to see if your issue has already been logged. If it hasn't, log it. This isn't an unreasonable request. > I think that as much as it is my (or any newbie) interest to get the > most out of this project and have my questions answered as quickly and > thoroughly as possible, it is in the best interests of the project and > its community as well because in the long run, any project of this > nature requires constant influx of new people to be successful. So we > all basically want the same thing :) Right. Well, after all this, It seems I have gained *zero* details on why the documentation is lacking from anyone but myself. Well, I take that back: I know "they suck" and that the documentation, articles and examples "fail." :) -- John --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cake PHP" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cake-php?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
