From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.2 (2018-09-13) on inbox.vuxu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.8 required=5.0 tests=DKIM_SIGNED,DKIM_VALID, DKIM_VALID_AU,FREEMAIL_FORGED_FROMDOMAIN,FREEMAIL_FROM, HEADER_FROM_DIFFERENT_DOMAINS,MAILING_LIST_MULTI,RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.2 Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (minnie.tuhs.org [45.79.103.53]) by inbox.vuxu.org (OpenSMTPD) with ESMTP id 7cf8ed02 for ; Fri, 16 Nov 2018 16:56:13 +0000 (UTC) Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id CAA32A26D8; Sat, 17 Nov 2018 02:56:12 +1000 (AEST) Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 0C946A26D4; Sat, 17 Nov 2018 02:55:43 +1000 (AEST) Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id DC536A26D4; Sat, 17 Nov 2018 02:55:36 +1000 (AEST) Received: from mail-lf1-f48.google.com (mail-lf1-f48.google.com [209.85.167.48]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 3F05993FC6 for ; Sat, 17 Nov 2018 02:55:31 +1000 (AEST) Received: by mail-lf1-f48.google.com with SMTP id n18so17003950lfh.6 for ; Fri, 16 Nov 2018 08:55:31 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20161025; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:from:date:message-id:subject:to :cc; bh=GEp8u8xyb5XjcAkcWiOcHSTgejAR05wEY+OvEAqjuu8=; b=VWzmQEPthlQ4VuY6SBtlKCYZWmxDMZG9CL5TEJYjgWZ36thOZP9sIC8kYlGsJGQLNe /qE0jwrCfHIdBzHyn9iC9ilXaWOwGMIZEOi/aOckJFbKrJ5Zsx5pLHxd/IwEuMcquR/1 hyHHchtrrKImQPt3OI97tnbuBXWieIjxvibkhiqOadBumWfhwKeDiCFiiZo+a49Fcx64 m2RFsZISJqN27/b+SRFv8FGX1Hic2O691Xi8hMrcrzlt2Tl26hDeQD7FQCTvWXAEErAA LnRBz8wCKhUap3WdPReslL3zvmPEmGnHhJxgiK5fkWEqa4EGS0GMqENqAZWQZjaBzb6T kwAA== X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20161025; h=x-gm-message-state:mime-version:in-reply-to:references:from:date :message-id:subject:to:cc; bh=GEp8u8xyb5XjcAkcWiOcHSTgejAR05wEY+OvEAqjuu8=; b=spggGNKwTtEFfxknAF0rKkkwoXS7i1oe9W1lUlsjfNM8X7qLnPv+kGdIOSxTvrac0I FfTBxfTZjBnAbggwN/hyFnWRXXQrR9xbnCNOLADU5fVOTnfaRBlccKCtCBywCzu9phx2 6TlG/J0lnfPIuGLsfre2CBqBv8+1Y2vrndWzVimOsBR2ZU5rjM9nrYYiLOTMBr1l+Bp2 3oJvFX1M9KpjDqC4UUC3c0x5JzBUTjLhRwRBXEc5pnAtLdzIZ03srXlg+7XoLv8KzeLn R8GwYLuii+jxLXnkdJcpeZzcS8sTyO9aG76/tt2jVZxJn3/lO9nUHa5L0zDeY1sW3aVx QVmg== X-Gm-Message-State: AGRZ1gLVJI45RYeDoqhcbBsLHo8x5anHRnZqn4JrbiGeA+b8zkJTwPC7 QNOMvOb04QRauh0lZX/pVaLaNcw4CyXFU7ra0pO0ng== X-Google-Smtp-Source: AJdET5e5E5dH4swmxOoL0uuBStfyjkMfU0QeI1V9ziBTnn/WsNq8qhWoS74eyKIluF+xu/zewd2/W1nmeBTDZlWRBVI= X-Received: by 2002:a19:6514:: with SMTP id z20mr2345069lfb.31.1542387329538; Fri, 16 Nov 2018 08:55:29 -0800 (PST) MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 2002:a2e:3a11:0:0:0:0:0 with HTTP; Fri, 16 Nov 2018 08:55:28 -0800 (PST) In-Reply-To: <7a632484-cdc7-7c59-7077-7a2c752045da@spamtrap.tnetconsulting.net> References: <201811160003.wAG03mlF139232@tahoe.cs.Dartmouth.EDU> <20181116045016.GK3341@mcvoy.com> <7a632484-cdc7-7c59-7077-7a2c752045da@spamtrap.tnetconsulting.net> From: Paul Winalski Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2018 11:55:28 -0500 Message-ID: To: Grant Taylor Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Subject: Re: [TUHS] man-page style X-BeenThere: tuhs@minnie.tuhs.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.20 Precedence: list List-Id: The Unix Heritage Society mailing list List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Cc: tuhs@minnie.tuhs.org Errors-To: tuhs-bounces@minnie.tuhs.org Sender: "TUHS" On 11/16/18, Grant Taylor via TUHS wrote: > On 11/15/2018 10:32 PM, Dave Horsfall wrote: >> The Unix manpage format is the epitome of perfection; they tell you >> everything you need to know, and in the right order. Frequently I >> cannot recall a particular flag (but I know what it does), and it's >> right there at the start. > > I think man pages make a great reference. But I don't think they are a > good teaching source for someone that doesn't know the material or what > the components are for. > I agree with Grant. If you want to know what a particular command does and what its options are, man pages are fantastic. If you are a new or casual user trying to find out what command(s) to use to accomplish a particular task, the man pages are an exercise in frustration and futility. Other OSes have done a better job in that area (the VMS and DTSS HELP commands come to mind). IMO ideally one should have both--a generalized "help" command for those trying to find out what command to use, and "man" as reference material. UNIX and Linux have never had a proper help facility. Or at least I never was able to find it. -Paul W.