Re: [gentoo-user] package conflict on update

[Trenton Adams]

On 1/5/06, Neil Bothwick <neil@××××××××××.uk> wrote:
> On Thu, 5 Jan 2006 16:08:04 +0000, Tom Martin wrote:
>
> > > if_blocked_by('openmotif')
> > >     ewarn "You must unmerge openmotif before proceeding"
> >
> > An error message like that doesn't really tell the user anything that he
> > doesn't already know.
>
> It may not say anything you or I don't know, but from the number of posts
> to this list about blockers, it would clearly help some people.

Yes, and I've noticed there's a big problem with the linux community
at large.  People that know and understand linux have a lot of the
times not helped the "open source" intiative, in that they like things
to be difficult, because it makes them somehow seem smarter.  In all
reality, it doesn't take a genius to use linux, just someone who likes
to read a whole lot.

Now i'm not saying this is a problem with the people working on
gentoo, so please don't think that I am.  But, if you do feel that
way, perhaps you should think twice, and actually support users.  I've
always felt that Linux in general could easily surpass windows in
usage, *IF* the linux community would make things more user friendly. 
For example, if I didn't have to read the documentation to get
something basic to work, then it's user friendly.  That doesn't mean
you have to remove flexibility either.  I've seen gui utilities in
windows that had full command line support.  If you provide command
line options, the GUI doesn't start.  So, one can have user friendly
applications without sacrificing flexibility.

When I first started with gentoo, I was ready to give up.  Not because
I didn't know what I was doing with linux, but because I don't really
have the time to read a whole whack of documentation, and the
documntation is not in a nice point form format for those that do know
what they are doing anyhow.  Take the gentoo quick install version of
the gentoo hand book.  It no longer tells you what commands to
actually run.  It just describes what to do, which is of VERY little
value.  Luckily I kept a printed copy of the old quick install around,
becuse I have no use for the new version.  Why someone would remove
all that useful information from a quick install guide, only to make a
lot less useful, I don't know.

>
> > It would be more useful if some information was provided:
> >
> > if blocked_by >=x11-libs/openmotif-1.2.3 ; then
> >       eblockinfo "Due to changes with blah, it is recommended that"
> >       eblockinfo "you foobar. See http://bugs.gentoo.org/123456."
> > fi
> >
> > But then, at what point would this information be echoed to the user?
> > It would have to be during the same pre-merge phase that the blocking
> > errors appear.
>
> Yes, so instead of rushing to this list or the forums, they can do what
> the message tells them and be on their way. The current messages are only
> useful if you already understand how and why blocks happen, and how to
> deal with them.

EXACTLY.

>
>
> --
> Neil Bothwick
>
> If you got the words it does not mean you got the knowledge.
>
>
>

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