On Sat, 06 Dec 2003 at 18:57 GMT, Bhavesh Patel penned:
> Hi everyone,
> 
> After having a challenging install of TMDA (for me, anyway), I decided
> to write a "TMDA for Newbies" instruction file.
> 
> It took me a while to write, and a lot of it is based on slightly
> distant memory.
> 
> I posted the first draft on my blog:
> 
> http://www.veshman.com/mt/archives/000098.php
> 
> 
> Please feel free to review and comment on it. I'm sure I made some
> errors, or some things could have been done better.
> 
> I would like to eventually make this file available to new TMDA users.
> 
> Regards, Bhavesh Patel
> 

First off, I think it's great that you're working on a newbie guide.
I'm *not* new to linux, and yet I still needed a good bit of
hand-holding from a friend who'd gone through the process.

Which brings me to my first thought.  In these instructions, you
intersperse "unix newbie" stuff with "tmda newbie" stuff.  I think it
might be a good idea to create separate links for that -- something
like, "For a primer on how to use the command line, go here; For a
primer on editors, go here."  That way, people who are tmda novices but
not unix novices can dive straight into the juicy stuff.

Secondly, under editors, you don't mention emacs!! Now granted, I avoid
emacs whenever possible, but it's certainly a popular editor and should
be given its due =)

I have this nagging feeling that the instructions you give are not
universal, but I can't pinpoint any particular spot.  Well, wait, maybe
I can.  For one thing, you seem to assume root access.  That should be
stated up-front.  It's also possible, though more of a pain, to install
tmda as a regular user.  I'm also not sure why you say that users need
web access to the server?  You put the executables in /var/www/cgi-bin/,
which weirds me out a bit.  Why not /usr/local/bin ?  Also, some systems
provide packages -- for example, if you're using debian unstable (sid),
I would strongly suggest using the tmda package rather than rolling your
own.

Just some thoughts as I was reading this ... More documentation is
definitely good documentation!  It seems like tmda has so many possible
installation types that what would be really cool is kind of a "choose
your own adventure" type help guide, where you describe the install type
you're after and the guide gives you customized instructions.

You want to install tmda.  Which MTA do you choose?
Postfix, Exim, Sendmail->

etc ...

Actually, I think that would be kind of cool, especially as a wiki where
other users could add their area of expertise.

Hey, Jason, how do you feel about wikis on your site?

-- 
monique

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