One gap I have always seen to be the case with a non-Windows system is
a good help system.
Indiana over a period of time should consider to have a good help framework.
[1] It should allow the user to *discover the solution* instead of
making the user reach out for mailing lists, IRCs, 1000page docs.
A. *Good/functional search*
B. Indexed
[2] The document & tool information should be accessible
Correct interlinkages : Context sensitive, See Also, Related
Tools, Related Tasks, Examples, etc.
[3] Mechanism for developers to integrate help content for their app
into the main help system
Content generation becomes responsibility of the software developers.
[4] Mechanism for people to contribute content (not always allows
display, but allows edit and upload for authenticated users)
(Google earth community built the bookmark for the entire globe
in no time)
[5] Have facility for user feedback
Helps make content relevant, especially when user doesn't get
the information he needs from the help system.
See the thread at desktop-discuss for detailed comments
http://mail.opensolaris.org/pipermail/desktop-discuss/2007-August/010456.html
And no, man pages do not satisfy the requirements.
We can consider these met the day when we stop seeing requests for
help on opensolaris list for tasks such as
- Changing computer name
- Changing ip address
- Rebooting/shutting down a system as non-root user
- Configuring wifi/ethernet
(A person being able to send a mail to opensolaris.org should be
sufficient enough skill to do the above tasks using the help system).
regards
Shiv
ps: openoffice.org has a pretty decent help system. But it is a bit
slow(in java) though.
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