Re: [Opencd-devel] Open Source CD

[Steve M. <st...@op...>]

> I know we're trying to keep the CD targeted at the "average" computer user,
> therefore compilers and whatnot may not be appropriate, however I like this
> idea of "HOWTO" documentation that can help people become more familiar
> with using their computer and open source software.

Trying to teach someone 'how to: using their computer" will be a massive 
waste of your resources.  

Assuming the project has limited resources to produce a physical CD.  We 
should focus on people who actually use their computers & leave basic 
training to teachers/lugs/community access centers etc.

[snip] Alex Roston: 
"Agreed, certainly we don't want something that's heavy with compilers,
interpreters, and other geekishness. However, a couple items like XBasic
and Visual Tcl might be good starters. After all, how many of us learned
to program with GW and Qbasic from the old DOS installs? Microsoft
doesn't include ANY programming languages with the new distros..."

I totally agree.  Best of Breed will avoid the embarrassment of shipping a CD 
with something broken on it and having the recipient hate open and free 
software.  Better than Stable is also a good idea.  I would go so far as to 
perhaps test the program on a Winbox first.  Perhaps even a lowend box??

Another Criteria for inclusion we might consider is the product's responses 
to bug reports, how helpful they are with assistance, or we could go one step 
further & create an IRC channel for helping those who get the CD & need help 
thus avoiding the product's maintainers/authors/etc with noise.


It just struck me that one 'Howto' doc that would be good is a brief 
explaination of what happens in the 'community' regarding 'release early, 
release often'.  Once we get someone hooked on open/free software we don't 
want them experimenting with 'less than stable' releases.  We should/can 
explain that our software is release prior to a level where an average user 
should even look at it for the best of everyone.  I read a nice piece on that 
once & will track it down today.  I remember it being rather elegant.
-- 
Steve Mallett | http://OSDir.org - Just Stable, Open Source Apps
st...@op... | web...@op...
http://open5ource.net <personal>

"To use Linux without criticizing it is to betray it."
				-Clay Shirky