According to Bryan Scaringe: While burning my CPU.
>
>
> Although I agree that there are plenty of FAQs out there, I have not
> found any suitable for this group. The most appropriate would be
> the linux-FAQ. However, for the porposes of this group, it is poor
> at best. Fir example, see the section on "The X-windows section".
> There are 4 questions addressed:
> Does Linux support X-windows?
> How do I get X-windows for my system?
> xterm logins show up strangely in who, finger.
> I can't get X-windows to work right.
>
> The answers to questions 1, 2, and 4 are basicly summed up as
> references to other documents. Question 3 says the XFree86 version
> 3.1 takes care of the problem (the date for the FAQ is May '95).
> Notice how these are questions that have not appeared on Linux-newbie,
> at least not In the last few months (i.e: They are NOT Frequently Asked
> Questions; at least not anymore). the first three are out of date.
> the fourth requires more information before the problem could be addressed.
> The type of information needed to tackle this problem is never mentioned
> in the linux-FAQ.
>
Ok i must agree whole hartedly on that, but there are other faq/howto's for
X window stuff, and indeed there are many of them scatterd here and there,
some more up to date than others i might add.
> Many of the FAQs I tracked down ware VERY out of date.
Yes, i can assure you even with your "good intentions" at some time or other
your faq will also become out of date just like the rest, "I do not mean
that in a insulting manner", it's very hard to maintain documentaion "all"
of the time, i know i have done it before.
>
> I believe that most of the people on this list *do* actually
> read the man pages and info file before posting, but most FAQs
> still answer many questions with : "read <whatever>", where <whatever>
> is an outdated, no longer maintained document that the person asking
> the question has probably read twice before.
The difference between reading and "understanding" what is written is the
biggest problem, dont forget many subscribers are not English by desent.
>
> The FAQ I am proposing (which may already exist, see below) would
> address FAQs asked ON THIS LIST. It would be updated on a regular
> basis (monthly?) and a URL Posted to the list (perhaps weekly).
> It would, no doubt take bits and pices from other FAQs, and would
> probably include references to other documents, provided they are
> up to date.
Some doc's are up to date, but many are not, anyway what you are proposing
is a very good idea and would contribute to narrowing bandwidth.
Once again the need for any URL to be published in a "welcome message" to
the newbie group is impiarative.
>
> Now, there IS a FAQ for this list. The maintainer just stepped down,
> and handed the FAQ to someone else. I have yet to see this FAQ, and
> have no idea what shape it is in. With any luck, the new maintainer
> will update it and release it within a few days. I also hope that
> the new maintainer will accept input to the FAQ from the subscribers
> of this list, as it is their FAQ.
As far as i can recall i have never seen any FAQ URL for this list, maybe i
missed it somewhere, but i dont recall any message passing tho' my system
here.
I said it at the start, its a good idea, i will even say to you if you
need help i would be willing to assist you, however i can assure you
writing HOWTO's README's and FAQ sheets is not an easy task.
I have done Documentation for several programs which were written by
people who could hardly speak English let alone write it, that was one
experiance i will never forget.
Let me know if you need any assistance.
>
> Bryan Scaringe
>
>
--
Regards Richard.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
