Video Write the Docs Helps Create FLOSS Software Documentation (Video #2) 14
Timothy Lord for Slashdot: Now I asked you before a little bit about how somebody could get involved if they wanted to take part in helping to write docs. What about the other way, what is the is there a push mechanism or I guess this may be a pull, if somebody has a software project and says, I want my documentation to be better but it is not my expertise, can they contact Write the Docs and say, have at?
David: I think yeah, definitely they could do that. The community is very active on Twitter, very active on GitHub and so you could post your GitHub repo and say, hey I need some help, anybody interested, or go to our websites writethedocs.org readthedocs.org and again the meetups, especially if you are in a city that has a meetup, check out their page and talk to the organizer, he might even be able to set up a day or a meetup where you come in and do a hack day for somebody who brings in their projects and needs help with it.
Slashdot: Is there anything that you found in working on documentation for different projects, any advice you have for people who are actually writing the apps in the first place.
David: Writing the apps? I would say get people involved early, get a writer involved early, if you can find someone or post it out online, find someone that is interested in helping, it is always good to have different perspectives.
Slashdot: And to be clear, this is an entirely voluntary effort, is that right?
David: Yes, it is voluntary. So the meetups are all run by someone in __ city most of us are just enthusiastic participants for Write the Docs. It is just something we believe in and it has been a lot of fun, and it is a great way to grow your own career as well, and learn new things and meet new people. It is a great community.
Slashdot: Speaking of it, Dave how did you get involved with this? What was your path to actually taking part as a volunteer?
David: A friend told me about it. And I ended up going to the conference two years ago, and just kind of sat back and watched but this year, I got much more involved, started my own meetup for the group in Seattle and just started getting the act together, ___ people talking people and just getting out there.
Slashdot: Is there a particular project that you work most on actually improving the documentation?
David: Right now, there is not I am trying to find something, I want to get more involved, but right now I am just trying to learn, trying to meet more people, and really trying to promote Write the Docs wherever as I can as it is just something I really believe in. I think it is a great thing.
Look at the sources (Score:3)
Who needs documentation? Just look at the source code. I had enough difficulties writing it, you should experience the same reading it!
Documentation is for sissies anyway...
Woosh... (Score:2)
Woosh....
Re: (Score:1)
Poe's Law. Too many people say "just look at the source code" and are serious.
Re: (Score:1)
Constant effort is made to raise the use of dental floss in UK:
http://www.colgate.com/en/us/o... [colgate.com]
https://upload.wikimedia.org/w... [wikimedia.org]
-Winston Churchill
Flash video (Score:1)
Should /. be marking flash videos explicitly? Do people still use Flash -- at least the /. crowd?