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Subject:Re: News on open source software... From:Sean Wheller <sean -at- inwords -dot- co -dot- za> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Fri, 2 Sep 2005 09:30:42 +0200
On Friday 02 September 2005 04:07, Hiking Nut wrote:
> Hello everybody. I just read this today and thought some of you might
> be interested in the article. Seems like it might not be a bad thing
> to learn open source applications:
>
>http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS3926478427.html
There is no question about open source.
What would be good is to start understanding how open source
content/documentation works.
I have been working in the area for about 4 and a half years. Today my company
is all about open source. The toolchain and work process is very different to
the traditional system and I have to spend much time teaching new writers the
difference in order to create a better culture fit during development.
Technical writers find it hard to produce documentation in an environment
where there are so many eye-balls and an equal amount of opinions.
Working under open license, in an open forum where not everybody is a
technical writer by has equal ability to commit changes to documents is often
just too much for many technical writers.
Best place to start learning is to actually join a project like KDE or GNOME
and start working on their documents. I am willing to help/support anyone
wanting to get started.
Hope this helps,
--
Sean Wheller
Technical Author
sean -at- inwords -dot- co -dot- za
084-854-9408 http://www.inwords.co.za
Registered Linux User #375355
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