From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Path: main.gmane.org!not-for-mail From: crashedandburnt1@hotmail.com (Crashedandburnt) Newsgroups: gmane.emacs.help Subject: Re: Program structure of Pstricks, what is its basic structure? Date: 24 Feb 2004 00:51:13 -0800 Organization: http://groups.google.com Sender: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Message-ID: <42414174.0402240051.5e144b5e@posting.google.com> References: <42414174.0402221953.24c938a6@posting.google.com> <42414174.0402231604.5a4c2a1a@posting.google.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: deer.gmane.org Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Trace: sea.gmane.org 1077613463 4199 80.91.224.253 (24 Feb 2004 09:04:23 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@sea.gmane.org NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2004 09:04:23 +0000 (UTC) Original-X-From: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Tue Feb 24 10:04:16 2004 Return-path: Original-Received: from monty-python.gnu.org ([199.232.76.173]) by deer.gmane.org with esmtp (Exim 3.35 #1 (Debian)) id 1AvYUC-0002Zs-00 for ; Tue, 24 Feb 2004 10:04:16 +0100 Original-Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=monty-python.gnu.org) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.30) id 1AvYRb-0001OW-3h for geh-help-gnu-emacs@m.gmane.org; Tue, 24 Feb 2004 04:01:35 -0500 Original-Path: shelby.stanford.edu!newsfeed.stanford.edu!news.tele.dk!news.tele.dk!small.news.tele.dk!news-out.visi.com!hermes.visi.com!news.octanews.net!newsfeed2.dallas1.level3.net!news.level3.com!postnews1.google.com!not-for-mail Original-Newsgroups: comp.text.tex,comp.lang.postscript,gnu.emacs.help Original-Lines: 75 Original-NNTP-Posting-Host: 206.149.32.88 Original-X-Trace: posting.google.com 1077612674 18180 127.0.0.1 (24 Feb 2004 08:51:14 GMT) Original-X-Complaints-To: groups-abuse@google.com Original-NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2004 08:51:14 +0000 (UTC) Original-Xref: shelby.stanford.edu comp.text.tex:271468 comp.lang.postscript:76678 gnu.emacs.help:121173 Original-To: help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org X-BeenThere: help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.2 Precedence: list List-Id: Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Xref: main.gmane.org gmane.emacs.help:17124 X-Report-Spam: http://spam.gmane.org/gmane.emacs.help:17124 David Kastrup wrote in message news:... > crashedandburnt1@hotmail.com (Crashedandburnt) writes: > > > effort. I help anonymously. We all know that there are numerous > > unsung heros of free software movement. Certainly, it is > > impossible to refer to them individually and it is easiest to > > give credit to them collectively by naming Stallman. But to ask > > me to write the doc by figuring it out is plain mischief. > > Even Stallman himself would call this nonsense you write preposterous. ^^^^ what nonsense? If you quote rather than using pronouns, you would be better understood. > He is not out for recognition of himself, but for the GNU project. > And not for some general goodness or whatever, but for recognition > where it actually employed, namely in GNU/Linux systems. What did I say that is in contradiction to your above para beginning, "He is ...." Don't put words in my mouth, please. > And how do you think documentation comes into being? By writing > itself magically? The easiest way is for the author or those who understand it well to document it at the peak of their understanding. > > I recall, you said in the conversation that you spent "just too much > > time" on it. > > If any such communication has happened (which I consider quite > unlikely), this is and remains a valid reply. You are entitled to > what you bargained for, and for nothing else. > > > But the point is that when one spends so much time on writing a > > package, refining it and then writing about 76 page pairs of user > > manual, it is not much effort to document the workings of the > > package for others to learn and benefit from, since it was put in > > the public domain. > > Good, then write a pstricks replacement, 76 page pairs of user manual > and document the workings of the package for others to learn and > benefit from. Blessings, honour and power be unto you. > > Until then, shut up. Mr. Kastrup: I am a free man and cannot give up my right to speak. I do not tell you to shut up. You are free to present your case, and I mine. Answer this: How many visitors, or posters on ctt or clp do you think will understand the code when they ask such basic questions daily that you have to explain, even though they are all explained in Knuth's book or code? I think, I have a valid point. The documentation needs to be improved. It is incomprehensible to the majority. And since you are one of those who explains tex, most posters will not come out to dispute with you, but they secretly agree with me that documentation is not good enough. That is why I argue that if the regular stream of posting consists of simple questions, it is impossible that they would understand this code in a reasonable time. I might give an analogy. It is a class in which few students understand the prof. The rest are afraid of criticising. Most don't know if it is their fault, or that of prof. In the coming days, the ability of people to explain the subject of this thread will itself testify how well it is documented. In the coming days, the ability of people to explain the subject of this thread will itself testify how well it is documented.