Fw: [gnu-malayalam-discuss] Starting off - some tips

----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Mahesh T. Pai"=20
Date: Sun, 23 May 2004 12:11:39 +0530=20
To: GNU-Malayalam localisation=20
Subject: [gnu-malayalam-discuss] Starting off - some tips=20

> Hi all!!!=20
>=20
> Now that internals are over, I guess that most of us are free (free is=20
> as having time to kill - me excluded), here are some tips to get going.=
=20
>=20
> 1. Stick to the command line interface. I have seen quite a few of you=20
> using the GUII for configuration. This is not bad idea because GUIs are=
=20
> meant to be used. But remember that the GUI hides the actual=20
> functioning of the system from you. If you use the GUI for=20
> configuration, please do it only as a means of *testing* the *GUI*;=20
> after all, the end user will be using the GUI for most of his work.=20
>=20
> 2. Remember, there are more than one way of doing things; for example,=20
> you can install fonts simply by putting the font file in the=20
> $HOME/.fonts directory. You can also add fonts by putting the directory=
=20
> containing the font file in the XFree configuration file. In both=20
> cases, you need to run ttmkfdir or mkfontdir, depending on kind of font=
=20
> being installed in the directory. You can use the output of xlsfonts=20
> command to see if a particular font is available.=20
>=20
> 3. Remember, GNU/Linux gives you a really long rope to do things, and i=
f=20
> you are not careful, you will hang yourselves, and still have enough=20
> rope to hang the user too.=20
>=20
> 4. When you have problems, read the manual. If the manual does not=20
> answer, ask google. If google has no answers, ask the mailing list=20
> archives. If the list archives have no answers, ask the list. As far as=
=20
> possible, avoid private mails - because people will have similar=20
> problems, and by putting your problems (and somebody's solutions) in a=20
> publicly accessible archive, you are making life easier for all.=20
>=20
> 5. If you trash your application configuration, in most cases, you can=20
> simply move the concerned dotrc file away, and restart the application.=
=20
> There is no need to reinstall the app as is common in the non-free=20
> world. (eg:- You can `reinstall' KDE for a particular user by moving=20
> the $HOME/.kde* files away). True, this is not a `reinstall' as usually=
=20
> understood.=20
>=20
> 6. Have a separate login on your machine for development and day-to-day=
=20
> work. Make sure that you have different settings for both works.=20
> Remember that out in the wild bad world, the common user is not going=20
> to use the same settings as you do.=20
>=20
> 7. While upgrading or installing new applications, remember that there=20
> is no need to reboot your GNU/Linux system unless you want to change=20
> the kernel. There are means of forcing the applications to re-read=20
> configuration files.=20
>=20
> 8. The above are general observations. Generalisations might not apply=20
> in certain specific cases.=20
>=20
> 9. If you do not get answers from a mailing list, chances are that=20
> nobody knows the answer.=20
>=20
> 11. If you find a bug, do not carp; fix it. Before fixing it, verify=20
> that it is really a bug and not a feature. You can confirm that a bug=20
> is a bug by asking the -devel lists for the concerned application. Make=
=20
> it a habit to go through the bugzilla pages and mail archives of -devel=
=20
> lists.=20
>=20
> 10. This list is not complete.=20
>=20
> 12. I may be wrong in someplaces. Do not hesitate to point out errors=20
> when you find them.=20
>=20
> --=20
> Mahesh T. Pai <<>> http://paivakil.port5.com=20
>=20
> free - (adj) able to act at will; not hampered; not under=20
> compulsion or restraint; free from obligations or duties;=20
> not bound to servitude; at libertyx.=20
>=20
> _______________________________________________=20
> gnu-malayalam-discuss mailing list=20
> gnu-malayalam-discuss-8H24Gfgyrqprzt3WPRo2bV6hYfS7NtTn@public.gmane.org=20
> http://puggy.symonds.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gnu-malayalam-discuss=
=20
--=20
_______________________________________________
Get your free email from http://www.hackermail.com

Powered by Outblaze
----------------------------------------
|  Free Software Users Group - CUSAT   |
|  http://fsug-cusat.port5.com/        |
----------------------------------------