[cl-faq] overall structure of the faq

[Peter Seibel]

On Dec 21, 2005, at 9:13 AM, Larry Clapp wrote:

> On 2005-12-21, Nikodemus Siivola <nikodemus at random-state.net> wrote:
>> Robb Aley Allan <robb-lists at helical.com> writes:
>>> I thought it might be useful to propose an overall structure for a
>>> new Lisp faq, and begin to fill it in. Such a structure might allow
>>
>> I'm replying at a random point -- not to this message specifically.
>>
>> I'm somewhat concerned that many of the questions aren't FA -- and
>> many of the sections in the proposed structure don't IMO belong in
>> an FAQ at all
>
> I agree that our FAQ should have FA Q's in it.  To that end I spent
> some time over the weekend searching for "lisp question" in cll; I
> found a Q I'd seen a couple times before, and submitted an A for it.
>
> I think the answers in our FAQ should grow that way, though I also
> think we should have a pre-defined structure.  (I haven't looked at
> Robb's proposed structure in detail yet.)
>
> I think it boils down to, if you don't think a Q is FA, don't A it.
> If you find what you consider a FA Q, A it, and we'll add it.

I basically agree though I'm inclined to accept a somewhat low bar  
for the the F value. As in most things the 80/20 rule or the long  
tail or whatever they're calling it these days. If we defined  
"frequent" as the questions that are asked 80% of the time we'd  
probably have  a three question FAQ:

  Q. Why isn't Lisp more popular?

  Q. How do I build a standalone executable?

  Q. How come my macro doesn't work?

I don't see a big cost of including questions that aren't all that  
frequently asked, particularly when they are the questions that folks  
*should* in some sense be asking, as long as we organize the FAQ so  
folks can find what they're looking for when they're looking for a  
specific thing. Anyway, that's how I've been thinking about it.

-Peter

-- 
Peter Seibel           * peter at gigamonkeys.com
Gigamonkeys Consulting * http://www.gigamonkeys.com/
Practical Common Lisp  * http://www.gigamonkeys.com/book/