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Subject: Re: [9front] Argument lists in Plan 9 man pages
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References: <8ADDB08FEC580BCDA1A069F2B6469597@5ess.inri.net>
 <20180315033451.GA89773@wopr>
From: Kyle Nusbaum <knusbaum@sdf.org>
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Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2018 23:54:42 -0500
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On 03/14/2018 10:34 PM, Kurt H Maier wrote:
> On Wed, Mar 14, 2018 at 10:57:55PM -0400, sl@stanleylieber.com wrote:
>>
>> I agree with Tufte, at least so far as this applies to man pages.
>> Flag options should be presented as a table.
> 
> 
> Counterpoint:
> 
> Man pages should provide a full and well-articulated explanation of the
> software.  Tufte's table advocacy is more appropriate for a 'usage'
> function that might describe invocation to a user who passed a help
> flag or fucked up the initial attempt.
> 
> Tufte's USA Today stuff is fine for sales brochures and nutrition
> information labels -- man pages should be the developer speaking to the
> user, and that happens in English.
> 
> My commitment to this opinion is insufficiently intense to cause me to
> take any action beyond whining on the internet.
> 
> khm
> 

Furthermore, it appears Tufte is speaking specifically about
quantitative materials.
I'm not confident flags are quantitative.

Having said this, I agree with sl, and either way I will obviously do
nothing about it.

-Kyle