Re: The already complicated (complex?) process for contributing.

[Simon Tournier <zimon.toutoune@gmail.com>]

Hi Giovanni,

On Sat, 16 Sep 2023 at 09:33, Giovanni Biscuolo <g@xelera.eu> wrote:

> since I already replied you offline please forgive me for any
> repetitions, but later I realized a better comment to your metaphore
> (see below) could be useful to other people.

Since your offlist comment is more or less about the same idea, let me
paste my answer. :-)

First, Guix is done by volunteers and is not an “industrial food
company”. :-) Being done by volunteers does not mean low-quality – Guix
is probably better than many products done by professionals ;-).
Instead, done by volunteers implies other mechanisms than the ones used
in “industrial food company”.

Second, I think we all agree with: we all have or had to read some
documentation and have to make some trial/error loop before being able
to run Guix.

That's also all my point, IMHO. :-)

As you said elsewhere, complex does not mean complicated.  Simple is not
necessary easy.  Etc.  Somehow, Rich Hikey says the obvious in their
talk [1] and that’s why the talk speaks to many people, I guess.  Rich
Hikey makes clear what we already know and had never said explicitly.
It is important to remember the message behind, IMHO.

From my point of view, if the Guix community wants to Guix being
successful, then we have to work on two directions:

 1. Spread the word.
 2. Keep easy what should be easy.

About #1, it means talks, skill sharing, blog posts, tutorials,
documentation, etc.  and being pedagogical by showing what Guix is able
to offer.

About #2, it is where Guix is still a bit weak and we need to work on
that part.  Although, it is regularly improving.

Back to the initial discussion of this thread, which is a tiny stuff in
that picture :-) Your answer "it will be documented" focus on #1.
That's fine and yes having a good documentation is more than important.

My concern is to just say: please do not forget #2.

Thanks for the discussion.  And thanks for pushing ideas and for
pushing how to make them concrete.

My final word, the culinary proverb: talk does not cook the rice. :-)  I
am going to try to cook some rice. ;-)

Cheers,
simon