Stuart Cooper wrote: > > > -P prunes empty directories. The warning you get is warning you that the > > file is currently being removed as part of the update. > > I see. Thanks. I can see how I'd draw that conclusion, because it's > perfectly clear from the oh-so-instructive warning message.... > > I'll spare you my "software for geeks" rant. > > Wise move. As a development tool, CVS is supposed to be for geeks. My point being only geeks put up with confusing and obscure error messages when a lesser mortal would have given up in frustration. Geeks are used to learning complicated and difficult to learn tools. Ordinary users want the computer to meet them halfway. That's not so bad when geeks write software for geeks. But when geeks write software for humans, suddenly they discover that not everyone is prepared to put up with poorly designed user interfaces. Humans demand something better. For their part, geeks also have an interest in better designed tools. How much time is spent dealing with the accidental complexity of tools like "Make", with its bizarre syntax and (in the case of recursive makefiles) impossible to follow recursive behaviour, instead of working on actual problems? Too much. It's not like people haven't realized this. The "software capentry" project is one attempt to reduce such problems -- on the agenda is an easier to use replacement for "Make". > Those misguided people complaining about Info format should type C-h i h > in Emacs (I was going to say start Emacs first, but you all run Emacs > already, right? :) and work through the tutorial and learn to use it > and to love it. Fortunately I'm completely immune to "macho techy" syndrome, and if I find something difficult and hard to understand I'm not afraid to say it. I will only note that the standard Unix-style "info" hypertext documentation browser, with its plain-text appearance and keyboard browsing commands pales dramatically compared with the point and click world-wide web -- a tool even geeks have been known to use quite effectively, without any complaints that it should be made harder to use.
Stuart Cooper wrote: > > > -P prunes empty directories. The warning you get is warning you that the > > file is currently being removed as part of the update. > > I see. Thanks. I can see how I'd draw that conclusion, because it's > perfectly clear from the oh-so-instructive warning message.... > > I'll spare you my "software for geeks" rant. > > Wise move. As a development tool, CVS is supposed to be for geeks. My point being only geeks put up with confusing and obscure error messages when a lesser mortal would have given up in frustration. Geeks are used to learning complicated and difficult to learn tools. Ordinary users want the computer to meet them halfway. That's not so bad when geeks write software for geeks. But when geeks write software for humans, suddenly they discover that not everyone is prepared to put up with poorly designed user interfaces. Humans demand something better. For their part, geeks also have an interest in better designed tools. How much time is spent dealing with the accidental complexity of tools like "Make", with its bizarre syntax and (in the case of recursive makefiles) impossible to follow recursive behaviour, instead of working on actual problems? Too much. It's not like people haven't realized this. The "software capentry" project is one attempt to reduce such problems -- on the agenda is an easier to use replacement for "Make". > Those misguided people complaining about Info format should type C-h i h > in Emacs (I was going to say start Emacs first, but you all run Emacs > already, right? :) and work through the tutorial and learn to use it > and to love it. Fortunately I'm completely immune to "macho techy" syndrome, and if I find something difficult and hard to understand I'm not afraid to say it. I will only note that the standard Unix-style "info" hypertext documentation browser, with its plain-text appearance and keyboard browsing commands pales dramatically compared with the point and click world-wide web -- a tool even geeks have been known to use quite effectively, without any complaints that it should be made harder to use.
