The frustrations of language!
 

A good while ago, I came across an online magazine called tuxmagazine which seems to be aimed at the newbies amongst us.

I have no delusions as to my linux knowledge levels, and figured that that should be most helpful.

So this month theres an article about an information organisation app called "basket". It looks and reads like a very good idea except........

I start following the article. I get it installed, I then try to add my first bit of info (a URL as suggested in the article) but nothing on my screen seems to even vaguely resemble whats shown in the article either text or screenshot.

The upshot is that I can't get anywhere with this app, however good it may appear in the article.

I have no way of finding out why my view is any different from the one in the articles "screenie", I can't find anything that explains what I might be doing wrong. Hence uninstalling the app.

Now this may seem like a criticism of the magazine. It's not. It has more to do with how many linux related articles are written.

Surely, if it's supposed to be a "do this, then this, then that" type article (tutorial/set of instructions/whatever) then theoretically, it's supposed to work. Whereas they all seem like a jumbled maze of information.

It matters not, whether it's something from "tuxmagazine", or any other source (printed or otherwise). Don't these writers ever think of either trying a couple of guinea pigs to see if their instructions actually work or maybe run it by a proof reader, so that it's clear and makes sense? (or both?).

Linux seems to move in "leaps and bounds" except when it comes to documentation - where every move seems like a step back.

This post, for example, it's just my thoughts and opinions. Jumbled? possibly, but at least I'll preview it and attempt to ensure that it "reads" (or is that what the publishing/media industries call "scans") correctly?

Come on you "writers", please at least try to put your "stuff" in plain english, then not only will it make life easier for those of us who speak english as a first language, but it should also be more easily translatable for those who don't!

To be fair, most magazines are 2-3 months out of date. In the world of software, especially open source software projects, a major upgrade could be introduced in that timeframe, causing a then-accurate article to appear to be completely wrong.

A fair comment, though if it was all part of a standard development process to include documentation from the start, then i'd suggest that in nearly all cases, it would still maintain accuracy and relevance.

It's still something that the FOSS world lags behind on, considerably. It's not as if it's just a case of "doing a windows", i.e. you can't just say "what the hell" and throw some money at a business (via phone lines and other support payment mechanisms) in the same way that you usually can with windows apps. Hence my insistance on the need for good quality documentation.

I know it's an "old cherry", but it won't stop me continuing on my mission to moan about the lack of decent documentation as often as possible :) and I'll continue to cite the arguement, that the lack will continue to deter people from even having a go at linux i.e. they can't just ring a premium support line, as in most cases, these don't exist. So the fall back of obtaining good quality docs is a must. Often thats not available either, so those of us who are interested/stubborn enough end up at places like LQ - those who might not be quite so curious just say f**k it, and end up staying where they are!

It's as if good linux docs, are "the missing link"

I don't quite see what this has to do with the Linux - Software help forum. I'm moving it to General.

Well because it was about an apparently "easy to use" piece of software - the fact that it'd been plugged by tuxmag, which is aimed at the newbs of the linux world (me included), yet when I tried to have a go with it, none of the advice/instructions/info made any real sense after the first 2 suggestions/ideas, prompted my moan (sorry, I could have used a better title), but whatever.

I can only try to put it in what I feel is the appropriate forum - though thats why you mod and I don't :D

TVM

regards

John