Re: /var/db/pkgdb (somehow) out of sync with /usr/ports (FreeBSD 7.2)

Bob Eager wrote:

On Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:02:45 +0000, Jason Bourne wrote:

I guess I'm just trying to make a point about learning. Want FreeBSD to
be "easy"? Learning will definitely be involved. It's only taken me nine
and half years to learn what little I know. But, for me now FreeBSD just
isn't difficult any longer and I do not experience the problems I so
regularly read about. But then I also made an effort to learn.

I think one of the major issues is the UNIX 'man' system, which has never
been user friendly. From the release of V6, man pages have been great if
you knew what you wanted to start with; well, apart from the big ones
such as sh and csh, which are useless for quick reference.

You're dead on here. The man pages are great if you already have an idea
what you need to do but just need a reminder for some arcane switch
combination(s). If one is just starting out fresh they give a new meaning to
the term "cryptic".

FreeBSD does a great job getting over that with the Handbook.
Unfortunately there isn't much about ports in there, in terms of building
and using. 'man ports' is helpful (but as usual terse). The ports tools
really need to explain the terminology they use; I'd write something if I
only understood it myself!


The material is actually present but disorganized in a fashion that just
begs for confusion. I once discussed this with someone who knows the doc
team and came away discouraged. Possibly the rewrite I had in mind would be
accepted, but I was told not to expect it or hold my breath. As such, I am
reticent to dedicate any time to it.

My idea for a rewrite was based on the consistency of problems newcomers
experience. I went through the exact same set of problems initially myself.
The material is present in the Handbook as is, but lives in several
different disconnected sections. I don't think the subject matter actually
requires a rewrite, only a reorganization of these "disconnects" into a flow
designed to make it easier for the newcomer to come up to speed quickly.

-Jason


.

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