Re: [dev] Surf hacking. Search Engine and Homepage

From: Bigby James <bigby.james_AT_crepcran.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2014 13:37:47 -0500

On 04/09, hiro wrote:
> > You can use a search engine to look for key phrases
> in error messages that will lead to hints on how to resolve issues.
>
> That's pretty awful advice if he doesn't know any C. stackoverflow and
> ubuntu-forums are not the place to learn programming.

You don't necessarily need a deep understanding of C to figure out why a patch
failed to apply. Manually applying a patch might be all that's needed. Every
suckless user eventually runs into a failed patch at some point, and while
reading K&R cover-to-cover might be a great idea it's probably more time and
effort than necessary to solve a short-term problem. It's more likely the
questioner would lose interest in the interim. Sure, my advice may or may not
lead to much long-term learning, but your advice amounts to "If you want to
learn how to solder, go get a two-year electrician's certificate." Besides, I
was merely suggesting that the OP put at least a little effort into fixing a
problem this time around,[1] rather than asking someone to hand over the answer
with a dearth of information.

> > First of all: Don’t top post.
> Bad rhetoric. If you want to say fuck off say fuck off to him already.
> One line should be enough.

The OP claimed to be unfamiliar with how the mailing list works; the respondent
gave a piece of advice concerning basic etiquette. There's no rhetoric involved,
just a blunt request.

[1]: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=179635

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Received on Wed Apr 09 2014 - 20:37:47 CEST

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