From: Chateauneuf (dupapeTQMcube.com)
Date: Fri Aug 01 2003 - 16:07:46 CDT

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On Fri, 2003-08-01 at 16:41, Derrick 'dman' Hudson wrote:

> "String" is the name people use to refer to a basic data type handled
> by computers. If you think the name string in documentation is
> ambiguous, then you probably oughtn't to be operating your own
> computer. Anyone familiar with software or reading software manuals
> will instantly recognize that style of writing and understand it.

Please. I have written enough VBS in my day to understand what a
"string" is. What was ambiguous was WHICH string it was referring to. It
seemed perfectly obvious after the fact. Then, again, consistent
terminology might have made it obvious spontaneously.
>

> Saying that the documentation doesn't contain the information it
> contains is likely to be taken as criticism. In addition, you did
> quite blatantly critize Wietse for not changing those parts of the
> documentation which are there and are quite explicit just because you
> didn't know what the conventions (not specific nor limited to postfix)
> are.
>
That's utter nonsense. Not understanding something is not reasonably
consistent with being critical. What I DID say - in response to some
obvious annoyance - was that I'm not an imbecile because I am unable to
understand the documentation.

I subsequently said that, regardless of the target audience, I do not
think that the documentation is well written. Since this is a (albeit
small) part of how I make a living, I will probably volunteer to
coordinate a documentation project sometime in the future (if that would
be welcomed).

> You'll also have to give Jim a some leeway here -- he's understandably
> a bit perturbed after Robin's repeated gloating with pride at running
> his business computer systems personally without an IT professional,
> all the while soliciting volunteer support from IT professionals (and
> hobbyists, but Jim falls in the professional category).

I have absolutely no problem with anything that he posted or inquired
about. It should be (perhaps painfully) obvious that I have neither a
fragile ego nor psyche.

> There isn't
> anything wrong with requesting help in a forum such as this, however
> don't claim to be superior to those helping you :-). (/me wonders if
> Robin is reading this)

I didn't.
>

> And the entire OS. You can't run postfix (or apache) on bare
> hardware, so you _must_ also be administering all the platform support
> that they require :-).

For better or worse - yeah. Between Labor day and November 15 (when I have very little time) will be the real test of our endeavor.

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