-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 David Abrahams wrote:

"Hickman, Greg" writes:

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-----Original Message----- From: boost-users-bounces@lists.boost.org [mailto:boost-users-bounces@lists.boost.org] On Behalf Of Foster Brereton Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 5:20 PM

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I have found the mailing list archives proved helpful, but took an inordinate amount of time to search through. Is it possible to take threads in the mailing lists that look something like this: - A: I have problem XYZ - B-Z: Oh, you need to do this - A: That fixed it, thanks! and convert them to a FAQ or additional documentation?

How about encouraging Boost library developers to maintain library-specific FAQs along with their respective library documentation?

How about it? We already do.

Technically true, however, frequently and functionally misleading. There have been few libraries I have used recently where I didn't have to call this list for help. While I have always received a degree of help which has been useful to me, I routinely see other threads where a programmer with a question doesn't seem to connect with the respondents (the latest threads about bjam & python being good examples). Evan Carew -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.1 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFD5hiapxCQXwV2bJARAt7CAKCvmItIJd1SIRMtIBx5QSYZDSqolQCeLIKx VZTAJXmow+xG82iHYFtPlZU= =Rjbi -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 David Abrahams wrote:

Evan Carew writes:

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David Abrahams wrote:

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"Hickman, Greg" writes:

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Foster Brereton Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 5:20 PM

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I have found the mailing list archives proved helpful, but took an inordinate amount of time to search through. Is it possible to take threads in the mailing lists that look something like this: - A: I have problem XYZ - B-Z: Oh, you need to do this - A: That fixed it, thanks! and convert them to a FAQ or additional documentation?

How about encouraging Boost library developers to maintain library-specific FAQs along with their respective library documentation?

How about it? We already do.

Technically true, however, frequently and functionally misleading.

How about encouraging library developers to improve their FAQs?

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There have been few libraries I have used recently where I didn't have to call this list for help. While I have always received a degree of help which has been useful to me, I routinely see other threads where a programmer with a question doesn't seem to connect with the respondents (the latest threads about bjam & python being good examples).

Hm, those are my responsibility, to some degree. Which threads please?

try the following: Re: [Boost-users] boost python (compiling an extension) Evan Carew -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.1 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFD5koxpxCQXwV2bJARAiGfAJ9p83NwC2OyBzaoO9VmV8MvXyBq0QCfZ/qy 8wpwhwDnArNjeLJfdxe1RVc= =N4ZQ -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 David Abrahams wrote:

Evan Carew writes:

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David Abrahams wrote:

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Evan Carew writes:

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There have been few libraries I have used recently where I didn't have to call this list for help. While I have always received a degree of help which has been useful to me, I routinely see other threads where a programmer with a question doesn't seem to connect with the respondents (the latest threads about bjam & python being good examples).

Hm, those are my responsibility, to some degree. Which threads please?

try the following:

Re: [Boost-users] boost python (compiling an extension)

Ahem: http://lists.boost.org/boost-users/2006/02/16887.php. I don't know what thread about bjam you're referring to.

Am I missing something? You wanted a thread didn't you? -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.1 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFD5q/ipxCQXwV2bJARAvkrAKCLmTENFk/sQc9OQB790cIf7DPSXACeM2pD edb4FznZzkGPfXe2qCC6Uto= =X5Px -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 David Abrahams wrote:

Evan Carew writes:

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David Abrahams wrote:

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Evan Carew writes:

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David Abrahams wrote:

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Evan Carew writes:

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There have been few libraries I have used recently where I didn't have to call this list for help. While I have always received a degree of help which has been useful to me, I routinely see other threads where a programmer with a question doesn't seem to connect with the respondents (the latest threads about bjam & python being good examples).

Hm, those are my responsibility, to some degree. Which threads please?

try the following:

Re: [Boost-users] boost python (compiling an extension)

Ahem: http://lists.boost.org/boost-users/2006/02/16887.php. I don't know what thread about bjam you're referring to.

Am I missing something? You wanted a thread didn't you?

I'm sorry, wasn't this supposed to be an example of a thread where a programmer with a question didn't connect with the respondents? Maybe I don't understand what that means?

As it happens, it is an example of a programmer having trouble with the build process, bjam, and his inability to find sufficient documentation to get the job done. Contrary to what is usually said about boost's build process, this query is about the ability to build python extensions using the mandatory bjam process. If you read the thread, you will experience one of the examples you were requesting. Sincerely, Evan Carew -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.1 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFD52OXpxCQXwV2bJARAqpeAJ9ryUQYtUksZD9SqXQxTEX8ZEuu2ACglebV 6d73KAZfuzHrtpSDCUszaAg= =aIcX -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 David Abrahams wrote:

Evan Carew writes:

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David Abrahams wrote:

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Evan Carew writes:

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David Abrahams wrote:

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Evan Carew writes:

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There have been few libraries I have used recently where I didn't have to call this list for help. While I have always received a degree of help which has been useful to me, I routinely see other threads where a programmer with a question doesn't seem to connect with the respondents (the latest threads about bjam & python being good examples).

Hm, those are my responsibility, to some degree. Which threads please?

try the following:

Re: [Boost-users] boost python (compiling an extension)

Ahem: http://lists.boost.org/boost-users/2006/02/16887.php. I don't know what thread about bjam you're referring to.

Am I missing something? You wanted a thread didn't you?

I'm sorry, wasn't this supposed to be an example of a thread where a programmer with a question didn't connect with the respondents? Maybe I don't understand what that means?

Ahhh, I see now. David, my bad for not noticing that you are in fact the one Mr. Bourdenas is communicating with on the issue with bjam & python. No wonder you might be understandably sensitive about a comment to the effect that the user and the respondent (yourself) might be talking past each other. In my own personal experience on this list, I am distinctly aware that help from the developers and experienced users is essentially philanthropy from this august body of top tier developers. I also suspect that most posters on this list looking for help would agree with me that this is one of the most well mannered lists precisely because the afore mentioned observation is well respected. The end result is that any posting by one such seeker of help is reread at least three times and edited for any passages which might sound upsetting to the helper. One of the unfortunate consequences of this behavior is that critical commentary is probably being filtered out in an effort to ensure that future conversations are not precluded. This in turn improves the chances that the seeker will receive answers from someone on the topic of interest in the future. I myself just finished a conversation with someone who, while helpful, provided information which fell well short of providing me with a solution. My estimate at the time was that I would have had to spend ~30 - 40 more hours fiddling around with boost's various parts before I would have had a solution. Never the less, I was careful to thank the respondent for his input (as was his due) because I realize how easy it is to simply respond with a quick note pointing someone in the right direction without taking the time to complete the circle. As luck would have it, in my case, I was able to find some decent documentation outside of boost's web site which did an excellent job of describing the library I had a question about & my problem was solved the same night. I have a feeling that's how a not insubstantial fraction of frustrated querys end up getting resolved, that, or they simply end up getting dropped. I really do hope You manage to give Mr. Bourdenas something useful in his quest to compile python extensions with the more common infrastructure (libtools), or to at least provide enough information for him to feel comfortable with bjam, however, should your help not be quite what he is looking for, I hope he can find the Perforce-jam tools manuals still on-line from a decade ago when they were more popular. Sincerely, Evan Carew P.S. Mr. Bourdenas, if you are listening, the old manuals are indeed still on-line and can be found at http://www.perforce.com/jam/jam.html -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.1 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFD53CBpxCQXwV2bJARAmwZAJ92RXvqddgcI5Ia4gE2nC3744FC7gCgrujG j/EjmfBOdURrGN+DiP3Xm9k= =RopV -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 David Abrahams wrote:

Evan Carew writes:

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As luck would have it, in my case, I was able to find some decent documentation outside of boost's web site which did an excellent job of describing the library I had a question about & my problem was solved the same night. I have a feeling that's how a not insubstantial fraction of frustrated querys end up getting resolved, that, or they simply end up getting dropped. I really do hope You manage to give Mr. Bourdenas something useful in his quest to compile python extensions with the more common infrastructure (libtools),

Check the thread again. He's using Visual Studio.

I hope to be able to provide Visual Studio project files in the future, but right now I don't have time to produce such a thing for the project.

I have a feeling that everyone reading the thread got that point. I also suspect many of us also realize libtool & MS Win work just fine together as well (even if most of said use is under cygwin).

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or to at least provide enough information for him to feel comfortable with bjam,

I'd be happy to; he should bring his Boost.Build questions to the boost-build list if possible.

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however, should your help not be quite what he is looking for, I hope he can find the Perforce-jam tools manuals still on-line from a decade ago when they were more popular.

That won't help much. Perforce Jam is an almost entirely different beast from Boost.Build.

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P.S. Mr. Bourdenas, if you are listening, the old manuals are indeed still on-line and can be found at http://www.perforce.com/jam/jam.html

No offense intended to Mr. Carew, but you'll be doing yourself a favor if you ignore that advice. Perforce Jam is mostly irrelevant and most people who look at it expecting to be helped with Boost.Build end up very confused.

Now that is good advice! -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.1 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFD54YmpxCQXwV2bJARAlK8AJ4gc8NeTw32u7kwGfKB9Qj7TBVHVQCfZX9Q DsqE1bBZPQNvfBPER1AsiPo= =FGY2 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----