Building a Large Linux Knowledgebase

linuxfan writes "It looks like LinuxQuestions.org is aiming to build the largest independent Linux-related knowledgebase using a Wiki. They are using the same software as Wikipedia (MediaWiki), are using a Creative Commons license and look to be off to a good start."

Comments

They have that....

[JustinXB]

It's called Google.

Re:They have that....

[timeOday]

The other big problem is that information goes rapidly out of date.

Say you need to make a file over 2GB (very common in video processing) and you stumble across this page. You come away thinking linux doesn't support large files, when really it does. In this case you can scroll all the way to the bottom and the author is nice enough to have timestamped the page - 1998. But still, how do you know whether the old information is outdated? Even if you choose some arbitrary cutoff date ("information after Jan 1, 2003 is likely to be fresh") how do you tell google to only find information after that date? You can't.

Unfortunately there's no easy solution to the problem of outdated information. Useful documentation takes attention and manpower. But perhaps an easily modifiable Wikki-format will encourage more updates and more participation than comparable efforts such as The Linux Documentation Project, which is really just a smattering of FAQs, HOWTO-s, guides, and man pages with no real coherence - full of duplication and stale information.

Eh? Largest? Huh?

[Dark Lord Seth]

What about The Linux Documentation Project? Provides plenty of knowledge to me about pretty much anything Linux related...

Re:Eh? Largest? Huh?

[bgeer]

I am probably out of date and things are much better now, but I (and probably a lot of other people) have an aversion to anything named a HOWTO after spending many futile hours trying to decode them in the mid-to-late 90s when there was no other help available.

For those of you who mercifully missed out on this era, generally a HOWTO would

(a) Point you to software that no longer compiled on any platform known to man

(b) Advise you to use configuration options that existed only in development versions and never worked even then.

(c) Assume that you know how to use an equally complex program that has its own HOWTO which points you back to the one you started with.

(d) give great explanations like: Ok for this file you just use syntax like a=1 to set a equal to 1. For example to make it fly to the moon just type:
$foo53r45$::564.config <-> FALSE
DiskBo$xInvolvement.Underpantsgnome = $PROFIT$

etc...

I am exaggerating VERY slightly. Anyone remember the DIP HOWTO? According to legend the suicide rate among Linux users tripled within three weeks of its release.

Re:then...

[Anonymous Crowhead]

What if google dosent deliver?

If there is no answer on Google (groups that is), then there is no question.

Wikis everywhere

[koody]

It seems like wiki's would be the future of content creation on the web. It's becomeing increasingly popular, just look at the growth rate of wikipedia. Now volunteers are documenting tips and instructions for mozilla in a knowledgebase.

Wiki's seem to bring together the reasons why the web is seen as useful (disregarding the free pr0n). Easy content creation, accessibility and ease of use. With wiki's you get the added benefit of a central repository to look for the information you need.

As wiki's grow and become known the need for search engines might lessen. The first resort for information will change from google to the relevan wiki. Google will be seen as second in importance. After all, wiki has the structure of yahoo with the benefits of quality content.

Re:To clarify!

[boarder8925]

Crap I meant http://www.google.com/linux.

linuxquestions not just linux

[bbowers]

I'm a contributing member of the linuxquestions site, and I personally thing Jeremy (the owner/admin) is doing a wonderful job of keeping the site up to date and adding new things. Most recently they showed their support at linuxworld with other companies and .orgs. THe addition of the wiki will further increase what they're trying to get across. I've found threads on there that I havn't found anywhere else on google or mailing lists, and most everyhting I've needed has a solution. Responses are fast, and the people are very nice, I'd reccomend it to anyone with questions.

Now keep in mind they don't just do linux, theres Solaris forums, Programming forums, AIX, distro forums, and many many more such as hardware forums, networking and a very nice HCL. I guess this is turning into an ad but I'm just trying to help out cause a little bit I guess. You'll find me there as the user Astro

Then you'll like Wiki

[lawpoop]

The great thing about wiki is that it's very open. If you see redundant or meaningless data, delete it! Yes, you! It's very empowering.

But wait, hold on! Did someone write trollish nonsense all over a beatiful how-to? Just roll back the changes.

If this scares you (and it should, it's very powerful, very new), check out wikipedia.com. It's totally self-policing and very well-kempt. You will quickly move from scared to excited.

Another personal favorite...

[virid]

Elite Google

Re:Question

[Welsh Dwarf]

Does it strike anyone as a bit of a negative attribute that you have to have a massive knowledgebase to use your operating system?

The answer is that you don't, the wiki is more aimed at people who just want to find something out about Linux (ie 'How do they read e-mail without Outlook?'), are looking for a good distribution to try, or are curious and want to learn more about it (hence the technical parts)

However, I've always had to rely on poorly-written HOWTOs and other documents to spend three hours just getting a sound card or USB mouse to work under X.

Sounds like your distro isn't that recent (or that you're useing Slack or Debian, in which case the Howtos are to be expected). Modern Distros generally take care of your mouse and sound card in a few seconds while you watch the progress bar

Not to diss you, but Linux just isn't that hard anymore.