Open Source for Dummies?

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?"

Comments

One good example...

[kawika]

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.

Re:i got a better idea...

[Rysc]

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.

Re:OK, here is my problem

[__past__]

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.