> Hi All.
>
> Altho' i find the idea of a linux-newbie FAQ quite a good idea, i feel i
> must say that most questions which are asked here are already in a FAQ.
>
> Of course there will be spesific questions which may or may not already
> have an answer in one or another FAQ.
>
> Now considering that "most" people dont realy know whats happening when
> they install linux for the first time they tend to follow the instructions
> written on thier screens, one of which is about installing Documentaion,
> considering this fact then most newbies will have the FAQ's on thier
> systems already.
>
> What is needed more than anything is a "Welcome message" sent to all new
> subscribers of this list. The message could then include some text telling
> new subscribers where to look for the FAQ's on different systems.
>
> The FAQ can be found as stated below.
>
> Redhat /usr/doc/FAQ/FAQ
> slackware /usr/doc/faq/faq/linux-faq.ascii.gz
> debian /usr/doc/FAQ/linux-faq.ascii.gz
>
> If an answer to a question is not there, then normaly there are pointers to
> other files/howtos.
>
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 the first three are out of date.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.
Many of the FAQs I tracked down ware VERY out of date.
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is an outdated, no longer maintained document that the person asking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 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.
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.
Bryan Scaringe
