RE: [AM] Plato on Documentation

Well said!
-JCK

-----Original Message-----
From: David Robrecht [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2004 3:12 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [AM] Plato on Documentation


I agree. I never expect my documents to be clear. But I do write them and
sometimes expect documentation from others.
 
To often a manual is "used" to escape explaining the content of it
interactively.
People think it will save them time when they write down what they know and
then expect the document to be self explaining.
The result of this is that a lot of people do not understand the document
and cannot get a good introduction or explanation because they "should" read
and understand the manual.
 
This observation too often leads to disappointment and the conclusion that
documention serves no purpose.
The result of this beeing a lot of time spent on a multitude of private
documentation to preserve the memory of the explanation received.
 
Documentation to me is what I give to others so that they do not need to
take notes when I am talking to them. Documentation is also something to
write your own notes on. It does not exclude the need for real interaction
about the subject.
 
Robrecht
 

-----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- 
Van: Scott Ambler [mailto:[email protected]] 
Verzonden: vr 12/03/2004 17:35 
Aan: [email protected] 
CC: 
Onderwerp: [AM] Plato on Documentation



Plato once said "...anyone who leaves behind him a written manual, and
likewise anyone who receives it, in the belief that such writing will be
clear and certain, must be exceedingly simple-minded...".   Thoughts?

- Scott

====================================================
Scott W. Ambler
Senior Consultant, Ronin International, Inc.
www.ronin-intl.com/company/scottAmbler.html

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