Re: confusion in left frame of the website

[Marcus Brinkmann]

On Fri, Aug 22, 2003 at 06:02:38PM +0000, Robert Millan wrote:
> On Fri, Aug 22, 2003 at 11:32:37AM +0200, Marcus Brinkmann wrote:
> > On Thu, Aug 21, 2003 at 06:16:35PM +0000, Robert Millan wrote:
> > > I think a good solution would be to add the missing instructions to 
> > > install
> > > the Hurd, and move the instructions to install GNU/Hurd into a new upper
> > > "GNU/Hurd" section.
> > 
> > And you think that this will make it clearer for those users who don't
> > know what they want in the first place?
> 
> Who don't know what they want should start by making up an idea of what
> they want first, otherwise they'll be confused inevitably.
> 
> > I see the problem, but I have
> > my doubts about the fix.  As long as there is no GNU/Hurd system we do
> > in GNU, it will always be a source of confusion, I guess.
> 
> I have already some ideas for the "GNU/Hurd" field. It could explain the
> following points. I think it's clear enough:
> 
>  - The latest release of the GNU system is 0.2. It is obsolete, unusable,
>    ABI incompatible, etc. We don't even provide a link to it.
>  - What you want is a modern distribution of GNU/Hurd. Currently the only
>    available distribution is Debian GNU/Hurd (efforts are there on Gentoo
>    and others)
> 
> There's no room for confusion if you explain everything without ambiguity.

This is basically what the installation page says.  If a user wants to
install the GNU Hurd, on which link is he going to click?  Can there be
another choice than the "Installation" link under "The Hurd"?

You base your suggestion on a mail on Debian GNU/Hurd.  But it is very
common for people to call the GNU/Hurd, "the Hurd", because that is what
they are used from elsewhere.  They say BSD even if they mean the whole
distribution, and they do the same for Linux.  Some people even say "how can
I install Linux 8.2" and they most certainly the distribution.

So if they look for the Hurd, and mean the distribution, they will find it
in the current web page.  I am not sure where the problem is.  Do you mean
that the problem is that the current web page reinforces the lack of
distinction between GNU Hurd and GNU/Hurd?  I initially thought your concern
was that a user wouldn't find the install docs.

Thanks,
Marcus



-- 
`Rhubarb is no Egyptian god.' GNU      http://www.gnu.org    address@hidden
Marcus Brinkmann              The Hurd http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/
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http://www.marcus-brinkmann.de/