cart before the horse


Deb Richardson (deb@linuxcare.com)
Wed, 12 Jan 2000 18:30:55 -0500


I think perhaps there are a couple of things that need to be done here
before anyone starts drafting and discussing proposals and solutions.

First, and most importantly, at least one representative from each major
Open Source project must be brought in to take part in these
discussions. As yet, there are still people from a large number of
projects who don't know about this discussion list. You cannot hope to
start defining general and sweeping solutions to "the Open Source
documentation problem" without having input from all major groups.

Before this can be done, of course, there has to be a comprehensive list
of which projects should be involved. That list is key. All of these
projects have to be informed about this discussion list, and what this
discussion list is for. A very detailed definition of purpose is
needed, and must be sent out to all of the projects that should be
taking part.

Second, after there are people from all major projects involved, the
problems this group trying to solve have to be very clearly defined and,
more importantly, agreed upon. What are the major problems with Open
Source documentation? What exactly is this hypothetical "virtual group"
trying to do? What's the purpose? What's the scope? What exactly are
the problems being addresed?

Before there is input from all groups and the problems are defined (and
agreed upon), there is absolutely no chance that effective solutions are
going to be developed.

I strongly recommend that you stop putting the cart before the horse.
No one even knows where this group plans on journeying, never mind what
means should be using to get there.

The "Open Source documentation problem" is not going to be solved over
night. This is going to be a long and drawn out process that involves
large amounts of discussion and debate before anyone even gets close to
proposing possible solutions.

- deb



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