Re: This list NEEDS a FAQ
There already is a FAQ, here: http://jakarta.apache.org/struts/userGuide/kickstart.html I agree with the sentiment behind your suggestion, though. The real problem is that many people don't refer to the FAQ, and don't check the mailing list archives, before posting their own questions to the list. Unfortunately, these are typically the same people who believe that their own time is more valuable than that of other people on the list. I don't know what the best solution is for this problem. Moderating the list is one option, but with the typical daily volume of this list, I don't see anyone readily volunteering for that task. ;-) Perhaps the best we can do is to collectively enforce the do your own research first reaction. So whenever you read a message that asks a question that is already on the FAQ list, don't reply with the answer, but reply with a reference to the FAQ which supplies the answer. And if you see a question being asked repeatedly, propose it as a candidate for the FAQ. If we are consistent in the way we respond to frequently asked questions on this list, we should be able to reduce the overall message volume, and increase the signal-to-noise ratio. That will benefit us all. -- Martin Cooper - Original Message - From: Mindaugas Idzelis [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 2:32 PM Subject: This list NEEDS a FAQ Subscribers, This list NEEDS a FAQ badly. There are many many many questions that are asked repeatedly. It would be nice to refer them to a FAQ. I'd be willing to put together a small FAQ. Please send me questions (and answers!! -- if you have them) to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please include FAQ in the subject. Thanks. Mindaugas Idzelis
Re: This list NEEDS a FAQ
There's an FAQ on husted.com which contains frequent questions asked on the list, http://www.husted.com/struts/FAQ/index.htm Maybe we need an eye-catching link on jakarta's website pointing to the FAQ page? What do you think, Ted? At 05:32 pm 25-10-2001 -0400, you wrote: Subscribers, This list NEEDS a FAQ badly. There are many many many questions that are asked repeatedly. It would be nice to refer them to a FAQ. I'd be willing to put together a small FAQ. Please send me questions (and answers!! -- if you have them) to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please include FAQ in the subject. Thanks. Mindaugas Idzelis -- John Yu Scioworks Technologies e: [EMAIL PROTECTED] w: +(65) 873 5989 w: http://www.scioworks.com m: +(65) 9782 9610 Scioworks Camino - Rapid WebApp Assembly for Struts
Re: This list NEEDS a FAQ
http://www.jguru.com/faq/Struts - Original Message - From: Mindaugas Idzelis [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 5:32 PM Subject: This list NEEDS a FAQ Subscribers, This list NEEDS a FAQ badly. There are many many many questions that are asked repeatedly. It would be nice to refer them to a FAQ. I'd be willing to put together a small FAQ. Please send me questions (and answers!! -- if you have them) to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please include FAQ in the subject. Thanks. Mindaugas Idzelis
Re: This list NEEDS a FAQ
On Fri, 26 October 2001, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I agree with the sentiment behind your suggestion, though. The real problem is that many people don't refer to the FAQ, and don't check the mailing list archives, before posting their own questions to the list. Unfortunately, these are typically the same people who believe that their own time is more valuable than that of other people on the list. I'll second that. Many many questions have been posted on this list that are clearly explained in the documentation. The documentation isn't perfect, and can be confusing at times, but some due diligence should be expected. Not only is there documentation, but the source code is available and it will tell you the truth like no other! About a month ago I was thrilled to see someone respond to a question with RTFM! -- Steven Valin [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: This list NEEDS a FAQ
And if you have any Ant questions (come on, I know you do), Erik can help you at http://www.jguru.com/faq/Ant ;-) Erik Hatcher wrote: http://www.jguru.com/faq/Struts - Original Message - From: Mindaugas Idzelis [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 5:32 PM Subject: This list NEEDS a FAQ Subscribers, This list NEEDS a FAQ badly. There are many many many questions that are asked repeatedly. It would be nice to refer them to a FAQ. I'd be willing to put together a small FAQ. Please send me questions (and answers!! -- if you have them) to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please include FAQ in the subject. Thanks. Mindaugas Idzelis
Re: This list NEEDS a FAQ
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: There already is a FAQ, here: http://jakarta.apache.org/struts/userGuide/kickstart.html jGuru hosts a lot of Java FAQ lists, including one for Struts at http://www.jguru.com/faq/Struts The nice thing is you can suggest new questions, answers, and comments to existing FAQs. I agree with the sentiment behind your suggestion, though. The real problem is that many people don't refer to the FAQ, and don't check the mailing list archives, before posting their own questions to the list. [snip] Perhaps the best we can do is to collectively enforce the do your own research first reaction. So whenever you read a message that asks a question that is already on the FAQ list, don't reply with the answer, but reply with a reference to the FAQ which supplies the answer. And if you see a question being asked repeatedly, propose it as a candidate for the FAQ. If we are consistent in the way we respond to frequently asked questions on this list, we should be able to reduce the overall message volume, and increase the signal-to-noise ratio. That will benefit us all. Agreed. A short answer saying See the FAQ at this URL: http://..; not only directs people to the answer for a particular question, but also teaches them to look there for their next question. Another thing I've done on the VisualAge for Java forums is to post a weekly message about the existence of the FAQ. That way someone browsing recent messages is bound to stumble upon the link, and anyone nice enough to do a search in the archives for FAQ will find it. Ted Husted manages the jGuru Struts FAQ - would he be willing to post a message along these lines to this list every week (I can send the one I use for VAJ if you'd like to adapt it). Eric -- Eric Rizzo, Software Engineer OpenNetwork Technologies http://www.opennetwork.com - I embrace my personality flaws, for without them I might have no personality at all.
