SearchEnterpriseLinux: Dos and Don'ts: Get the Most Out of Free Support | Linux Today

SearchEnterpriseLinux: Dos and Don’ts: Get the Most Out of Free Support

Written By
Web Webster
Web Webster
May 27, 2003

[ Thanks to Michael
S. Mimoso
for this link. ]

Don’t rely solely on an open-source project
site’s search engine. The number of solutions contributed to an
open-source project like Debian/GNU Linux becomes daunting without
a strong search engine. I’ve found that an advanced Google search
often works more quickly and more thoroughly than an open-source
site’s search of itself.

Do be selective when subscribing to mailing
lists, or you’ll be overwhelmed. My e-mail subscription to just one
Debian Linux mailing list brings in 100 to 300 messages a day. Only
by using tools like procmail can one effectively sort through that
level of traffic.

Don’t waste your time on chat sessions.
Compared with e-mail archives, an open-source chat session gives
responses that contributors spent only seconds on, involves users
who are impatient and glib, and ignores thousands of archived
answers previously offered by others…”


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Web Webster

Web Webster

Web Webster has more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience in the tech sector. He’s written and edited news, demand generation, user-focused, and thought leadership content for business software solutions, consumer tech, and Linux Today, he edits and writes for a portfolio of tech industry news and analysis websites including webopedia.com, and DatabaseJournal.com.

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