Re: [gentoo-doc] Wiki, Take #whatever

[wireless]

Josh Saddler wrote:
> AllenJB wrote:
>> Request for clarification:
>> So you're proposing that if I write a good article on the wiki, the
>> Gentoo devs should take that article, XMLify it and put it on the static
>> site where I can't update it easily?

Your docs on your wiki, should follow whatever semantic you like. 
Nobody is talking about hi-jacking your (wiki) docs. I'm talking about
maybe one out of fifty docs that  one typically finds on a wiki, could
be motivation (and yes some ideas) on creating a similar doc that
is officially bless and maintained, to a much higher standard and
address things such that they can influence some of the existing
official docs.

> Actually, I'm not sure that guy had anything to say, really. But yeah,
> you're right; basically, it's a bad idea. If you write the article, best
> to keep it someplace where you know it'll easily receive TLC.


Um, I think your both confused what I'm trying to say. I'll restate 
it, hopefully a little bit more clearly.

Running a wiki, which usually has many folks actively involved, where 
the emphasis is on quantity of docs, not rigid uniformity, and where 
the particular selection of docs will usually be vastly larger than 
any official  distro docs, you have completely different semantics, so 
they cannot be merged, without great pain, compromise and huge amounts
of time.


Let the wiki, (or any number of wikis) exist unto themselves. However, 
if a really good topic comes up, then those officially under much 
tighter constraints, such as GDP or infra, should consider maintaining
a similar doc, that is held to much tighter (semantics) controls.


Let's face it. We all re-hash much of the same content on different 
linux distros, or even the same linux distro, so *I* do not see any 
big deal with this concept. Google for something and often you find 
multiple wikis that address a given subject with different docs, but 
with much that is common. Occasionally one will see a reference to 
that original doc that inspired the derivative. Often the wiki docs 
are old and not maintained, for a variety of reason. Just google for 
how to install a camera on a linux machine for a myriad of ideas. It 
sure would be nice to have an officially maintain basic video setup on 
gentoo, either using capture cards or a cheap webcam, as a baseline
for folks to get something working. (using my previous example). It 
would not have to be encompassing but it should be maintained to GDP
or such standards. Then let the wiki document, via dozens of different
documents, many of the finer, fast moving aspects of cameras and 
video. I.E. *Complimentary documents* not competing documents....



Two docs that address the same subject, one on a wiki, the other part 
of the official gentoo docs is good for users. The official docs will 
never be as numerous as other docs folks use to solve a problem or at
least get some ideas how to install or fix something. However what is
part of the official docs should be rigorously maintained, and held to 
a much higher standard, than the typical wiki, imho.


There is a reason we have many motorcycles and many vehicles with 4 
wheels. However, how often do you see a three-wheeled vehicle? Sure 
they exist, but, they are not common and they are very easily wrecked. 
Remember the early ones for recreational vehicles in the 1980s? They 
have been baned here in the US, because they were prone to 
catastrophic failure. Ditto for merging a wiki and official distro docs.



ymmv,
James