Luminousdolphin
Dabbler
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2015
- Messages
- 14
@gpfreitas Totally agree with you on numerous points. As a mini user myself, I like the idea of better documentation, however I think its unfair for an open source software to have guides directed only toward commercial products. Plus, iX wants to plug their own enterprise software anyhow.
I will say the freenas mini guide that came with the unit is embarrassing for iX. I also think it's reasonable for iX to provide a user guide for the mini that isn't a 10 page leaflet of useless garbage about following a wizard. I think the cop-out is "it's open source, what do you expect?"... but, I've seen linux distros with docs and guides that wipe the floor with the FREENAS docs...
However, I'm speaking more re: Configuration guides, not hardware guides. Hardware changes too quickly. The concepts behind configuration I feel could be more easily adapted and updated. I think config guides are what is most daunting to the newcomer. If you wanna go cheap and use crappy hardware, you're digging your own grave imho.
@SilverJS yep totally agree. I want to help, and assist in this, and I feel that the amount of people who ACTUALLY TOOK THE TIME is high enough to assemble their guides into a sensible whole. In my mind, there's already a book written within the forums, it just has to be curated.
@modresponses In general, I think hiding behind the 'no one wants to learn everything, everyone is a self-serving @$$ who doesn't care, wants something cheap, is entitled, et al' thing is shortsighted, and distances the admins from their own goals. Yes, there are these people. But perhaps, the sea of disparate information in the forums helps to generate this kind of behavior, rather than curb it. Again, I think i'm in the minority in encouraging a solution-focused, rather than problem focused dialogue.
I'm not asking for the world, I don't want my hand held, I don't want the easy way out, I don't even want it for free, I just want it to EXIST.
When you learn math as a kid, you're provided with examples, as well as 'proofs' which lead you to, in my mind at least, understanding fundamentals better. You don't drop Euclid's notebooks in front of a Geometry student and expect them to catch on and get it..... There's a text. Again, just a simple analogy... not looking for a debate on the state of primary education in the world.
I can't think of how you could possibly say this is unreasonable, unjustified, or a poor use of time or that it would be of more benefit than answering the same question 4 billion times:
Why not have better organized how-to's and stickies? Cull the best from the various guides in the how-to section and organize them into sections, or strata? Then compile this into a PDF format that can be referenced on an e-reader? Why instead of a giant wall of disparate, disorganized text can't we combine forces to organize something with at least a table of contents or structure of some sort to aid in reference?
I don't think i'm alone in saying navigating this forum and trying to cull useful information and develop a sensible plan of action for my own needs feels a lot like taking apart a mechanical watch blindfolded.
I used the phrase "Tell me why I'm stupid" tongue-in-cheek, because I (rightly) guessed that there was going to be immediate opposition by moderators.... however, I'm pleased to see that there is interest in some of the ideas and solutions I've proposed, as I would not want to be wasting my breath in bringing this up and encouraging further dialogue about it.
I will say the freenas mini guide that came with the unit is embarrassing for iX. I also think it's reasonable for iX to provide a user guide for the mini that isn't a 10 page leaflet of useless garbage about following a wizard. I think the cop-out is "it's open source, what do you expect?"... but, I've seen linux distros with docs and guides that wipe the floor with the FREENAS docs...
However, I'm speaking more re: Configuration guides, not hardware guides. Hardware changes too quickly. The concepts behind configuration I feel could be more easily adapted and updated. I think config guides are what is most daunting to the newcomer. If you wanna go cheap and use crappy hardware, you're digging your own grave imho.
@SilverJS yep totally agree. I want to help, and assist in this, and I feel that the amount of people who ACTUALLY TOOK THE TIME is high enough to assemble their guides into a sensible whole. In my mind, there's already a book written within the forums, it just has to be curated.
@modresponses In general, I think hiding behind the 'no one wants to learn everything, everyone is a self-serving @$$ who doesn't care, wants something cheap, is entitled, et al' thing is shortsighted, and distances the admins from their own goals. Yes, there are these people. But perhaps, the sea of disparate information in the forums helps to generate this kind of behavior, rather than curb it. Again, I think i'm in the minority in encouraging a solution-focused, rather than problem focused dialogue.
I'm not asking for the world, I don't want my hand held, I don't want the easy way out, I don't even want it for free, I just want it to EXIST.
When you learn math as a kid, you're provided with examples, as well as 'proofs' which lead you to, in my mind at least, understanding fundamentals better. You don't drop Euclid's notebooks in front of a Geometry student and expect them to catch on and get it..... There's a text. Again, just a simple analogy... not looking for a debate on the state of primary education in the world.
I can't think of how you could possibly say this is unreasonable, unjustified, or a poor use of time or that it would be of more benefit than answering the same question 4 billion times:
Why not have better organized how-to's and stickies? Cull the best from the various guides in the how-to section and organize them into sections, or strata? Then compile this into a PDF format that can be referenced on an e-reader? Why instead of a giant wall of disparate, disorganized text can't we combine forces to organize something with at least a table of contents or structure of some sort to aid in reference?
I don't think i'm alone in saying navigating this forum and trying to cull useful information and develop a sensible plan of action for my own needs feels a lot like taking apart a mechanical watch blindfolded.
I used the phrase "Tell me why I'm stupid" tongue-in-cheek, because I (rightly) guessed that there was going to be immediate opposition by moderators.... however, I'm pleased to see that there is interest in some of the ideas and solutions I've proposed, as I would not want to be wasting my breath in bringing this up and encouraging further dialogue about it.
