On Wed, May 6, 2009 at 1:44 AM, Jonathan McMahon <jongmcma...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > I'm 100% completely new to Postfix, somewhat new to *nix. > > My general feedback: > > 1. I find Postfix to be somewhat difficult, and the "google search" > documentation for my specific setup is fragmented and incomplete at best. I > did expect this given the number of possible system permutations. > > 2. I'm convinced that the postfix.org information is complete and accurate, > but it is nearly indecipherable for the truly new user. > > 3. I realized that the best solution was to sign up for this mailing list and > politely ask for some help, while at the same time educating myself as much > as possible via books/internet resources. > > 4. After I learn how to get my setup working, I plan on posting it to help > others. > > ----------------------------------------- > > For all the Postfix pros out there, I think new users would find the > following very helpful in getting started. If the sites already exist, can > they be added to the main documentation, or posted, or added to your own > personal Postfix sites? > > 1. A website dedicated to the most basic/safest configuration, integrated > with *nix concepts. > > The links on postfix.org pointing to basic configuration are helpful to a > point, but as a new user I find myself stuck at times. Would it be possible > to present these in a chronological order, e.g., create a new user, modify > mail.cf, create aliases, send an email after running postconf -n to > postfix.org etc.? > > Everything is there, but the order is aimed at the proficient user. A > stripped down version would eliminate a lot of the redundant questions from > new users like myself. >
The basic config guide at http://www.postfix.org/BASIC_CONFIGURATION_README.html seems to be intended, at least, to fulfill this need. Reading it top to bottom will probably give most people everything they need to get started. It is in a logical order. Maybe there are specific improvements that you can suggest or provide? > 2. A high-depth/low-breadth Postfix website. > In other words, show me the basics and explain the hell out of them - then > let me explore the intricacies on my own. Most of the concepts on > Postfix.org are given equal weight, out-of-step with their actual importance. > If a usable system is predicated on having an existing user, why not list > that? > The "Book of Postfix" does this well. > > Finally, I believe empathizing with new users without dumbing down the > Postfix site is extremely important. PLEASE don't add a "newbies" distro, or > segregate the list in any way. > > People with the wherewithal to learn Postfix aren't lazy or stupid. We > understand that just because you add "One Fish, Two Fish" to the library at > Alexandria doesn't mean you need to include it in the English 101 curriculum > at Yale University. > > If you want to tell us to "Go away", please, just tell us where to go and > we'll come back later when we're ready. > You say please don't separate newbie questions from expert questions. Not sure I agree with that, but OK. Then in closing you suggest that you'd be happy to "go" and come back when you're ready. Maybe I misread but these ideas seem to conflict. As it stands, this list gets poorly posed or lazy questions from time to time, usually from new users. The trend in these cases is that the new user ends up feeling insulted. This may well be the poster's own fault for not respecting how this list works, but I for one am interested in exploring ways to provide a friendlier environment (if it can be done without degrading the high quality of this list). > -Jon > > > > > > >
