On Thu, 2004-08-12 at 15:59, Jan Depner wrote: > When I started using Linux for audio a few years back (I started using > it for other things in 1993) I found Ardour to be the main application > that I wanted to use. Since I didn't think that I could spin up to help > with the software in a short period of time I decided to help in another > way - I wrote my own documentation on how to install it. I then started > writing what little bit of user documentation that I could (later Paul > asked that we all stop with the documentation). That was my first > contribution to Linux Audio. More recently I've been working on JAMin > and doing the install and user docs for that. I tend to agree with PJ > (Groklaw) - documentation should be written by newbies because the > authors are usually too close to the apps and are too familiar with them > (it should be intuitively obvious to the most casual observer...). So, > how about some of the users start in with documenting how they use the > apps, what problems they had, or anything else that might help? If > you've got anything to add to the JAMin docs (that I missed because it > was intuitively obvious ;-) send it to me and I'll try to add it to the > web pages. > > Jan The documentation by noobs is a great concept! And not only that, the "noob" learns in the process. So I *should* get busy and write that "live fx box How not to" huh?! :) I can write a thesis on what NOT to do! R~ > > > > On Thu, 2004-08-12 at 09:58, Russell Hanaghan wrote: > > I care Dammit! :) > > > > I think this is a valid point {& click). > > > > As a relative greeny to most things linux, I have found the vortex of > > info out there on some apps to be a show stopper many times. And then on > > ones that do have documentation...does it tell me the things need to > > actually know to make the software work? > > > > It seems that most that can write code or develop applications aim at an > > audience that should "understand where to look for a problem" and while > > that's all okey dokey, especially since they ARE doing it for free in > > most cases, it does not speak to attracting the masses to what has > > become a formidable adversary to MS in more ways than just server > > application! {at least that's what my ignorant perception of Linux was} > > > > The forums and wikis are good...they help a lot. And folks in general > > are just so very cool about helping. {quote: Jack_fst for e.g....not to > > mention dozens of other things I got help with here for other stuff) but > > they don't cover everything by a long shot. Sometimes I wont ask on here > > because humble is not my best suite! :) And I can't figure it out in > > many cases so It don't get to work! Who knows if that piece of software > > wouldn't have changed the world!!! :) Or at the least, it might have > > changed my world! And frankly many of these linux audio apps have done > > just that...rock my freakin' world at a great rate of knots! And I get > > out and gig at least a couple of times a month and get a LOT of interest > > over the PC stuff...I have the best seat in the house to push this out > > there...but we can make their journey easier today... > > > > {quote: "ah grasshopper, when you have crossed the rice paper without > > tearing it you will have learned" unquote} > > > > On Thu, 2004-08-12 at 06:13, Dave Phillips wrote: > > > Greetings: > > > > > > Recently I received a letter from a fellow who civilly noted how > > > atrocious is so much of the documentation for Linux audio software. > > > While that may be generally true it is also easy to point out specific > > > excellent docos, e.g., Snd, Csound, LilyPond, Rosegarden, etc., though > > > too at the same time it must be admitted that even those docs are not > > > necessarily the most well-organized. Perhaps this fellow's most damning > > > statement was made re: the HOWTOs available from the Linux Documentation > > > Project (LDP). I decided to check out the situation myself, and here's > > > what I found (the doc is followed by its last revision date): > > > > > > Linux Sound HOWTO July 2001 > > > ALSA Sound mini-HOWTO November 1999 > > > Linux MIDI HOWTO May 2002 > > > Linux MP3 HOWTO December 2001 > > > > > > Worse, the LDP's own documentation refers back to these out-of-date > > > pieces, making sure that readers continue to be misinformed. I mean no > > > critique of the excellent LPD, but it seems to me that as a community we > > > have an obligation to correct this situation. For all the talk about > > > improving documentation, here's a chance for anyone to get directly > > > involved. The format for these HOWTOs is simple and already laid out: > > > what's needed is currency, someone to correct and update the basic sound > > > & music oriented HOWTOs. Otherwise it might be better if we asked the > > > LDP to remove the docs in order to mitigate confusion. > > > > > > Any comments ? Any takers ? Does anyone care ? > > > > > > Best regards, > > > > > > dp > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >