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Fragmentation in Linux Documentation?

Posted by Cliff on from the where-is-an-up-to-date-repository-for-docs dept.

twilight30 asks: "While trying to figure out why a supposedly-supported SATA-II controller isn't recognized on my motherboard I thought I'd go back and visit the Linux Documentation Project's pages. It was a trip down memory lane, but I soon wondered about the state of many of the documents there. Much of TLDP is old, maybe even crufty. So, I'd like to ask what you think of TLDP.org and its 'competitors'. Do people get info from other sites or Wikis? Are people more likely to look at their distro's forums first? Are distros good enough now that TLDP is basically irrelevant? For the BSDheads, do you think the BSDs' documentation pages have lessons to teach TLDP? Is TLDP still relevant to you? If not, what would have to change for TLDP to become relevant again?"

4 of 61 comments (clear)

  1. Google by gvc · · Score: 2, Informative

    Try your motherboard model number and some combination of SATA, SATA II, Linux.

    Don't forget "blog search" if "web search" doesn't get you what you want.

    Also, when you figure it out, give something back: post the solution someplace. Anyplace.

    1. Re:Google by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 2, Informative

      Don't forget to check Usenet (or Google Groups for the NNTP-challenged) for answers. After all, this is the sort of thing that it excels at (or did at one time).

      --
      This guy's the limit!
  2. Re:Benevolent Dictators Helpful by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Informative

    It would be nice to have a mode in a Wiki that enforced a hierarchical structure like FAQ-O-Matic did, for certain classes of data.

    Using drupal's book module you can create hierarchies and restrict users by path.

    Users can then create and/or edit pages as appropriate.

    The permissions aren't quite granular enough to do all that you want, I don't think, but adding permissions and permission checks is trivial. And I mean that. I am not much of a programmer, so if I say it's trivial, then it's true :)

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  3. Re:Wikis are a poor choice for documentation layou by shaitand · · Score: 2, Informative

    'which generally have a horrible search, a limited search, or NO search'

    Google is the only search. It indexes that posts in that forum along with everything else. Google is the best documentation and helpdesk I have ever found.