Start a Fedora User's Starter guide.

Optimal Aurora · #1 8th November 2005, 02:17 AM

If Fedora is going to make a dent in other distros, shouldn't Fedora have its own Starter Guide, so that newbies as well as skilled people like me can use it as a reference guide. This could stop some of the repeat questions from being asked over and over again. It could also help people to better understand the inner workings of Fedora. I also think that it would help to keep users of fedora using fedora. And help bring in new users. I am an Xubuntu user, however, I like the ubuntu starter guide. It explains how to use the tar command, alien command, apt-get, synaptic, some tricks and tips, how to set up servers, etc. Fedora FAQ and other sites just don't seem to be enough for me.

Wouldn't this be a good ideal for Fedora to get started making a user guide for FC5 before it comes out or making one for FC4?

Please chime in to the poll as well as place your comments here in this thread.

Spoon! · #2 8th November 2005, 03:16 AM

A good way is probably to contribute to the Fedora Documentation Project.

RahulSundaram · #3 8th November 2005, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optimal Aurora

If Fedora is going to make a dent in other distros, shouldn't Fedora have its own Starter Guide, so that newbies as well as skilled people like me can use it as a reference guide. This could stop some of the repeat questions from being asked over and over again. It could also help people to better understand the inner workings of Fedora. I also think that it would help to keep users of fedora using fedora. And help bring in new users. I am an Xubuntu user, however, I like the ubuntu starter guide. It explains how to use the tar command, alien command, apt-get, synaptic, some tricks and tips, how to set up servers, etc. Fedora FAQ and other sites just don't seem to be enough for me.

Wouldn't this be a good ideal for Fedora to get started making a user guide for FC5 before it comes out or making one for FC4?

Please chime in to the poll as well as place your comments here in this thread.

For documentation there is always the Fedora Documentation Project and there is always a need for more content. No polls necessary.

There is already several ongoing efforts to write such getting started guides

http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Docs/Drafts

Feel free to sign up to the fedora-docs list and get started

http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/DocsProject/

Optimal Aurora · #4 10th November 2005, 02:52 AM

I looked at the wiki page, this is not like I expected but its close...

Here take a look at how easy it is to navigate on this starterguide that the ubuntu team made...
www.ubuntuguide.org

***Firewing1*** · #5 10th November 2005, 03:25 AM

Hey,
It's not developed yet, but I'm making a Q&A for commun Linux questions, plus programs for commonlu asked solutions. See my thread http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=83110
for more info. I have a GUI virus Scanner for Clamscan, a backups program, Q&A, audio-convert.
Firewing1

Optimal Aurora · #6 10th November 2005, 04:14 AM

Okay I'll take a look. Hang on...

EDIT:
Hay you made a point. That is somewhat like I am wanting to do is to give back to the Fedora/Linux community. Personally, I am the type of person that every time windows encounters a problem or crashes and asks to send a report to microsoft. I almost always do.

With my Gateway AMD64 bit system, I have encountered lots of problems with Linux running on it. But when it comes to Windows, its runs like a Mac, not a crash in the world until you start loading old games that came out in 2000 or earlier...

But that is what I was thinking about doing. But then too, I could help with the technical support on the forum. I guess there is lots of ways to help others avoid the problems and hassles I had when I first started using linux a year and a half ago. (FC1 at my college for a year and then FC3 in march to FC4 at present).

smfinley · #7 10th November 2005, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optimal Aurora

I looked at the wiki page, this is not like I expected but its close...

Here take a look at how easy it is to navigate on this starterguide that the ubuntu team made...
www.ubuntuguide.org

The Unofficial Ubuntu 5.04 Starter Guide that you are referring to was created and is maintained by a private individual (Chua Wen Kiat) and is not associated with Ubuntu and Canonical Ltd because of patent and other proprietary and legal issues. Similarly, this Fedora Core guide and others like it may not be officially connected in any way with the Fedora Project because they explain ways to use legally encumbered or non-open-source software in Fedora Core installations.

RahulSundaram · #8 10th November 2005, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optimal Aurora

I looked at the wiki page, this is not like I expected but its close...

Here take a look at how easy it is to navigate on this starterguide that the ubuntu team made...
www.ubuntuguide.org

The formal Fedora documentation would only cover Free and open source software preferrably those in the Fedora (core+extras) repositories. There is always a interest within the docs team to write more content that benefits Fedora users at different levels. If you are interested in contributing, see

http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/DocsProject/

Optimal Aurora · #9 11th November 2005, 03:51 AM

Thank you Rahul...

WheelDweller · #10 22nd November 2005, 04:42 AM

Fedora DOES have such a thing: FedoraFaq.org.

What makes it worthy is it's ability to update, even if the guys at Redhat are up to their necks in alligators. It's a living document, and *anyone* can ask to fix/change it. They're really responsible guys, doing a great job.

Personally? I think Redhat should slide'em some cash to cover the bandwith, and as a pat on the head for doing such a good job....then they can suggest new users go there for help beyond the included documentation.

I was skeptical about installing their RPM package to populate /etc/yum.repos.d, but it actually does a SUPERB job! I now install all my workstations from it, from the start.

JordanN · #11 23rd November 2005, 04:39 AM

What would be cool would be for someone to start a Wiki titled "1001 Uses for Linux". They could organize it like a tree, from general to more specific topics, ie: Server>Web Server>Multimedia Server or Desktop>Kiosk. Each level would have the configuration steps needed to get there, and then each topic would have the more specific configuration steps.

Thetargos · #12 23rd November 2005, 05:18 AM

A very good interface for the Fedora documentation would be one similar to that of Wikipedia, I think. And well, yes, there is need for more content in the Fedora Documentation Project... However is there a board to review all the entries and approve what makes it into an "official" (for the unofficial starter guide) status?

RahulSundaram · #13 23rd November 2005, 05:43 AM

Hey

If you guys want to get involved in writing content, drop by into #fedora-wiki or post in fedora-websites-list and I will give you edit access

http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/WikiEditing

Thetargos · #14 23rd November 2005, 05:45 AM

I'd be very interested, the problem is that I don't have much time to spend on writting documentation, though I like writting it

And since English is not my natal language, I tend to have a lot of spelling, style, and redaction errors.

RahulSundaram · #15 23rd November 2005, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thetargos

I'd be very interested, the problem is that I don't have much time to spend on writting documentation, though I like writting it

And since English is not my natal language, I tend to have a lot of spelling, style, and redaction errors.

Then start writing and we will have editors in the fedora docs project review it for formal documentation.