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Open Source for Dummies?

Posted by Cliff on from the reaching-the-masses dept.

GNUpowerSoul asks: "I have been working for several years on a large open source library. Ever since we made our first public release three years ago, we have found that the majority of our users seem to have no experience whatsoever with open source ideas and conventions. We have had to dumb down our documentation considerably (to the point where we have multiple pages to describe in excruciating detail the usual 'configure; make; make install' step). Has anyone else had experience in how to deal with a user community who doesn't understand the 'normal' practices for open source projects?"

4 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. One good example... by kawika · · Score: 3, Funny
    Has anyone else had experience in how to deal with a user community who doesn't understand the 'normal' practices for open source projects?"
    These guys have had a lot of experience. Notice how much work they put into documenting even the bugs.
  2. re: Open Source for Dummies? by weicco · · Score: 1, Funny

    Well, I've been doing libraries for Windows which users can use when they want to install network drivers and stuff like that. It basically does all the configuration there is to do. Documenting library API felt really stupid. Function names was so self-explanatory (config_ip_setting, bind_interface_to, and so on...). Even the guys who used that library was very skilled programmers but for some curious reason I had to document stuff like "Function: config_ip_settings Descript: Makes IP setting configuration." Oh well...

    --
    You don't know what you don't know.
  3. Re:i got a better idea... by Rysc · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why? What's so hard about typing three commands that are always the same, or close to the same? ...

    Whoa. Clock me! Nine months using Linux exclusively and I have become an elitist!

    Set your stop watches for "hacker" and watch me go again.

    --
    I want my Cowboyneal
  4. Re:OK, here is my problem by __past__ · · Score: 4, Funny
    I am trying to get sendmail configured
    Here is your fundamental mistake: Sendmail is not indented to be configured by humans. The format of sendmail.cf is optimized for bored ancient nordic gods that love puzzles, not for people trying to get a job done.
    --
    Programming can be fun again. Film at 11.