Re: [NTLK] the FAQ?

From: Grant Hutchinson <grant_at_splorp.com>
Date: Sat Oct 14 2006 - 17:03:15 EDT

In a previous message, Aaron Eiche typed vigorously:

> Yeah, I would volunteer to spear-head the project, but I'm still
> pretty new to all of this (I was new, then left, but just came back).

At one point, I was going to take over the FAQ maintenance when Paul Guyot ran out of time to work on
it voluntarily back in 2003. Unfortunately, I have never been able to dedicate any time to the FAQ
and see this through. I am certainly willing to keep hosting a current copy of the FAQ on my site,
but it definitely needs someone who can offer up adequate time to see that it get tidied up.

As for migrating completely over the a Wiki format, I would vote against that. There are still times
when a linear format such as a FAQ makes more sense (and is easier to use) than the more convoluted,
haphazardness of a communal Wiki. I think there is a place for both resources, but as mentioned
below, there are many items within the context of the two sources that require synchronization.

Ideally, I would like to see the FAQ simplified from what it is today. It should do what it was
designed to do: be a list of questions and answers divided into logical categories. If an answer can
be (or needs to be) expanded, discussed and elaborated upon, then the FAQ entry should point to a
much more detailed Wiki entry - and the two can live in symbiotic harmony.

> I see a few things that need to be looked at:
>
> 1) Dead links removed
> 2) New links added
> 3) Information Updated
> 4) FAQ and Wiki synchronized (or, if the FAQ is going to be abandoned
> in lieu of the wiki, then the FAQ needs at least to identify the wiki
> in the heading of the document as a source of updated material)

I would also like to see the HTML version of the FAQ be upgraded to more compliant XHTML standards. I
actually began doing this to the current version of the FAQ. It's by no means complete, but if
someone is interested as using it a starting point, they are welcome to it.

g.

.......................................................................

Grant Hutchinson > Interface Considerations & Toys

Weblog > www.splorp.com
Newton > www.newted.org
Design > www.veer.com
Photos > www.flickr.com/photos/splorp

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Received on Sat Oct 14 17:03:18 2006

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