Re: choosing an app to do

[Dan Mueth <d-mueth uchicago edu>]

> Is there some threshhold below which an app is too simple for a manual/help
> file to be written? A number of the ones with no docs listed on the
> doctable, such as User Listing or gdiskfree, seem like they might be good
> starting points for me 'cause they're easy and I'm new to this, but I'm a
> little hard pressed to imagine how much help users need.

My opinion - Very few if any apps or applets should go without docs.  The
ones you listed  could definitely use docs.  The ones which might not need
docs are some of the amusement applets, which seem quite obvious -
PenguinEyes and Fish.  In my opinion, all the applications/applets should
have some sort of docs, just for the sake of completeness.  They would
also include basic info - relevant web page, author, copyright info and
license, known bugs, and of course, a nice little description.  "That cute
little penguin watching your cursor is 'Tux', Linux's mascot."

> Also, is the primary need the development of documentation for those
> applications listed in the doctable? What of those other applications I'm
> finding useful that aren't listed?

My opinion - I would prioritize documents for the most widely
distributed/used applications.  ie. Applications in default distribution
(called "Core GNOME Applications " in the Doctable), GNOME Workshop, and
then other popular applications.

Note the "Core GNOME Applications" is not complete (I haven't finished the
Applets or Other sections).  Also there may be things in the next version
(1.2) of GNOME which are new and not in the Doctable.  One of us will need
to find out what is new and add them to the Doctable.

Dan