[kde-doc-english] Fwd: So, I am a beginner

[Mark Shelby]

On 4/17/08, ddevine <ddevine at rpath.com> wrote:
> Philip Rodrigues wrote:
> > ----------  Forwarded Message  ----------
> >
> > Subject: So, I am a beginner
> > Date: Wednesday 09 April 2008
> > From: "Mark Shelby" <mshelby1 at gmail.com>
> > To: kde-doc-english-owner at kde.org
> >
> > How do I get started working on Documentation for 4.0 series apps?
> >
> > I have been using KDE for many many years and figure that helping with
> > documentation is one way that I can give something of quality back to
> > the KDE community.
> >
> > The problem is that I know very little about where to begin, or what
> > the process is.
> > I saw the page on techbase, but unless I'm missing something it
> > doesn't really tell me how to get started.
> >
> >
> > I am ready to pick out an app and start writing so... help get me going!
> >
> > thanks,
> > -Mark
> >
> >
> This kind of message is common.
>
> At my company, when we get informational requests all the time for the
> same subject, we write a how-to, FAQ, or technical "tip" on how to do
> exactly that.
>
> I would write this and submit it, but I honestly don't know the process
> for being involved either.
>
Well, this weekend -- It's Friday afternoon for me! -- I will dig in
and find out what needs to be done and I will make it a point to
either get in touch with someone or I'll do it myself.

After 9+ years of trying I have converted my Dad to a Linux user. His
main gripe is poor documentation. Just last night he said "boy,
someone could make a fortune just by writing clear concise
documentation for this stuff." He said that after he'd spent hours
getting his wireless device working, and was in his 2nd hour of trying
to get his printer working.

By the way, doesn't it make sense that KDE should have a "tab" placed
in the "KHelpcenter" module in which you could go in to that tab and
write documentation for a given app or process, then upload it to a
network for 'fact-checking' by kde experts and document revisionists?
Seems to me that would be a good way to get more people involved.

> --
> Derrick Devine, Technical Writer
> phone: (919) 851-3984 x2151
> fax: (919) 851.3985
> rPath, Inc., The Software Appliance Company
> 701 Corporate Center Drive
> Raleigh, NC 27607
> www.rPath.com
>
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