(Off Topic ) Open Source: The Model Is Broken ??

[M. Fioretti]

On Sat, Dec 06, 2008 17:14:57 PM +0800, Ed Greshko wrote:
 
> When I hear folks lamenting the lack of documentation I often wonder
> what percentage of them dedicate their time to a documentation
> project.

Would it make any difference if they did? Is it fair to ask them
"write it yourself or shut up"?

In order to dedicate your time to documentation one would need to:

1) be ABLE to write good documentation. You yourself acknowledged
   good "documenters" are scarce. You're either good at it or you
   aren't, it's just like programming or any other complex creative
   activity. This is the biggest obstacle, or at least the first thing
   that makes the "write it yourself or shut up" useless (at least). 

2) have enough free time, after you've paid mortgage, food and bills,
   to start and finish writing a manual. Unless you're _paid_ just to
   write that documentation, of course. Even if you're good, it takes
   a lot of time and effort to do a good job.

Marco

-- 
Your own civil rights and the quality of your life heavily depend on how
software is used *around* you:            http://digifreedom.net/node/84