kay@warwick.UUCP (Kay Dekker) (10/14/85)
In article <354@ihdev.UUCP> pdg@ihdev.UUCP (55224-P. D. Guthrie) writes: >What a great idea!! net.docs !! There is a real need for "how-to" >manuals on all aspects of unix-life. I think that these documents could >be as useful as stuff in net.source for sites without a resident guru. >What we all need to do is to share our knowledge and let more people in >on the "secrets" of Unix. How about a "How to Port Software Between >Berkeley 4.x and System V.x" for starters. Excellent idea. I'd also suggest "How to Port Software Between Berkeley 4.m and 4.n". The group should be low-volume and high-content, but it would probably be better to have it moderated. That way we can be sure(ish) that archives are kept (to minimise "I missed the paper on "Why C++ Is Not My Favourite Programming Language" repost requests) and that problems due to people not having certain macro packages can be gotten round as cleanly as possible. Let's do it! Kay. -- "A boy does not put his hand into his pocket until every other means of gaining his end has failed." _Tommy_, by J. M. Barrie. ... mcvax!ukc!warwick!flame!kay
rick@uwmacc.UUCP (the absurdist) (10/15/85)
If you have any *worthwhile* documentation, the appropriate place to post it is net.sources or mod.sources. Text material is source, also. In article <2327@flame.warwick.UUCP> kay@warwick.UUCP (Kay Dekker) writes: >it would probably be better to have it moderated. That way we can be sure(ish) >that archives are kept (to minimise "I missed the paper on "Why C++ Is Not >My Favourite Programming Language" repost requests) Gee, I missed this. Could someone who archived it repost it? :-) -- "The Policeman's Beard is Half Constructed" -- Racter Rick Keir -- MicroComputer Information Center, MACC 1210 West Dayton St/U Wisconsin Madison/Mad WI 53706 {allegra, ihnp4, seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!rick
dave@circadia.UUCP (David Messer) (10/18/85)
> In article <354@ihdev.UUCP> pdg@ihdev.UUCP (55224-P. D. Guthrie) writes: > >What a great idea!! net.docs !! There is a real need for "how-to" > >manuals on all aspects of unix-life. ... > >What we all need to do is to share our knowledge and let more people in > >on the "secrets" of Unix. > > Excellent idea. ... > ... The group should be low-volume and high-content, but it > would probably be better to have it moderated. > ... Let's do it! > > Kay. > ... mcvax!ukc!warwick!flame!kay Best idea for a new group I have heard in a long time. I'm all for it. -- David Messer UUCP: ...ihnp4!circadia!dave FIDO: 14/415 (SYSOP)
pdg@ihdev.UUCP (P. D. Guthrie) (10/18/85)
In article <271@dlvax1.datlog.UUCP> dc@datlog.UUCP ( David Crone ) writes: >In article <354@ihdev.UUCP> pdg@ihdev.UUCP (55224-P. D. Guthrie) writes: >>In article <2850@pesnta.UUCP> earlw@pesnta.UUCP (Earl Wallace) writes: >>>Well, I think you have made a good point about Unix and the documentation. >>>Maybe what we need is net.docs where good documentation can be placed and >>>expired monthly. >> >> >>What a great idea!! net.docs !! There is a real need for "how-to" >>manuals on all aspects of unix-life. I think that these documents could >>be as useful as stuff in net.source for sites without a resident guru. >>What we all need to do is to share our knowledge and let more people in >>on the "secrets" of Unix. How about a "How to Port Software Between >>Berkeley 4.x and System V.x" for starters. Actually, this might go >>better as a moderated group, just to keep duplications, and junk out. >>Then of course we would need a net.docs.d for discussion about >>questionable points in submitted articles. >> >> Paul Guthrie >> ihnp4!ihdev!pdg > >I think both Paul and Earl are missing the point!!!! > >UNIX is now a COMMERCIAL ( :-) ) operating system used by manufacturers, >software houses and believe it or not END USERS of applications. > I agree, but there people need this type of documentation MORE than anyone else because in business "Time is Money". Relevant documentation could be a great asset to professional organizations that would otherwise have to pay large amounts of money to hire a guru or research something themselves. In a competitive market such as Unix software it would be too much to expect to have all the companies publishing their tecniques and skills in net.docs, but I feel that there would still be enough documentation of various sorts coming out of non-profit groups (Universities etc - people STILL are required to write papers aren't they?) and also from companies that wish to increase the Unix users base or supply additional information about the use of their products. This would help the Unix community, as the idea that documentation is shared would be an incentive for a company to "go" Unix. >It's time that AT&T and Berkeley revamped/rewrote the system documentation >so anybody could at least have some understanding of the operation of the >utilities without a) writing test programs b) relying on UNIX 'gurus' or >c) looking at the source code (if your're lucky enough to have the licence) . I disagree. If you look at any operating system ( I only have experience with Unix,Tops20,VMS,RSX,Pick [All probably TM's of someone or other] and various micro OS's, it is difficult to find any documentation that does more than show the usage. Examples and tales of experience are few and far between. This is the gap that I think should be bridged by net.docs. > >The idea of having a news directory to disseminate 'good' documenation without >making it available to all through the proper channels(AT&T and Berkeley) is to >me completely worthless. Remember the UNIX community is larger than the net.!!! Yes, the Unix community is larger than the net, but I think that the net is the backbone of the Unix community, and has the ability to bring software and I hope documentation into general circulation. > >UNIX's long term existence now rests within the commercial arena. Such companies >that are using or wish to use UNIX cannot/will not (ultimately) rely on the >guru principle of operation and the lack of good OS documentation could >jeopardise the future of the system. > I agree, so why not use net.docs? It is a step in the right direction, not something that would detract from the incentive to write good documentation. > > Dave (19th Nervous Breakdown) Crone > >(These opinions are mine alone, and do not necessarily reflect those of my > employers or fellow-workers) Paul Guthrie
wersan@daemen.UUCP (John Slasher Wersan III) (11/04/85)
> > >What a great idea!! net.docs !! There is a real need for "how-to" > > >manuals on all aspects of unix-life. ... > > >What we all need to do is to share our knowledge and let more people in > > >on the "secrets" of Unix. > > > > Excellent idea. ... > > ... The group should be low-volume and high-content, but it > > would probably be better to have it moderated. > > ... Let's do it! > > Best idea for a new group I have heard in a long time. I'm > all for it. *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR DOCUMENTATION *** Might I suggest this, instead of posting the docs to the net... Lets say that I post that I am looking for documentation on foobar, someone at node1, posts "I have documentation on foobar" then anyone besides me who wants said documentation can mail to the person at node1 one, thereby sparing the net the size of the docs, passed from site to site. -- John Wersan UUCP : {decvax,dual,rocksanne,rocksvax}!sunybcs!daemen!wersan inhp4!kitty!daemen!wersan "Any statements made are not mine, this computer has me mistaken for someone else, of lower intelligence." "The doctor said I had dain bramage... But my friends don't know what 'dat shit is"
mr@isrnix.UUCP (michael regoli) (11/09/85)
[:] > Might I suggest this, instead of posting the docs to the net... > > Lets say that I post that I am looking for documentation on > foobar, someone at node1, posts "I have documentation on foobar" > then anyone besides me who wants said documentation can mail to > the person at node1 one, thereby sparing the net the size of the > docs, passed from site to site. it sound like another "net.wanted" group to me... hey, i've got it: net.wanted.docs! or, to facilitate all this traffic: net.wanted.group... -- -- .^. michael regoli /|\ ...ihnp4!inuxc!iuvax!isrnix!mr '|!|` <mr@isrnix.UUCP>