[mythtv-users] FW: Help understand the interface of Myth Media & Video Gallery

[Anthony Rooney]

From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org
[mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of GZ
Sent: Friday, 4 February 2011 4:34 PM
To: Discussion about MythTV
Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] FW: Help understand the interface of Myth Media
& Video Gallery

 

 

On Thu, Feb 3, 2011 at 5:03 AM, Anthony Rooney <rooneyo at iinet.net.au> wrote:

I have been provided with a link to the documentation people where I will
feed back some possible enhancement to the wording of the steps recommended.
It certainly needs to explicitly make people aware that they need to have
permissions setup in advance for the MythTv user account (even though for
more astute users it would be obvious) and see if I can pick up cases where
some additional context can be provided to the instructions.  This might
help reduce the load on discussion forums like this where people are asking
questions about basic things like setting file location paths.

Users not used to Linux will not be naturally familiar with concepts of
setting up mounts points unless they are given explicit examples so there
are a few cases where this need to be set out more clearly.  Mapping network
drives in Windows is a similar concept however mounting locations like
drives is a little different.


 Hi Anthony,
As other posters have indicated, please post your responses after the quoted
text.  Top posting (putting your reply above the quoted text) is considered
against the etiquette on this list.

I agree with you that the documentation for mythtv needs to be improved.
Particularly notable is the fact that the user guide on the wiki is stated
as current as of 0.20, which is even older than the version I'm currently
using (0.21). What we really need is for people to stop talking and making
criticisms and suggestions, roll up our sleeves, and update the docs.  I've
been thinking of starting to do this - in my copious spare time.

Having said that, I disagree that we need to include step-by-step
instructions many of these scenarios.  Mythtv is a relatively complex piece
client/server software that interacts with many pieces of software: lirc
(remote controls), database, tv tuner and framegrabber kernel interfaces,
firewire, and the list goes on.  I don't think it's too much to suggest to
those installing mythtv that they should be at least somewhat familiar with
some unix system administration, including concepts of file/directory
ownership and permissions, mounting drives, and shell scripting.  I believe
that we should do a better job of setting appropriate expectations.
However, we should be spending effort on documenting the behavior of mythtv
for users as opposed to documenting the behavior of unix or ancillary
programs.  Users who are accustomed to windows and not unix/linux should
really consider educating themselves more about unix before jumping into
mythtv.  

Best of luck with your myth installation.

 

 

 


-Greg

 

Hi Greg

 

I do not know what you and others mean by "Top Posting".

 

All I have done is select Reply in my mail client and started writing a
message.  How can this be considered impolite??

 

This time I have scrolled down to the bottom of the message and inserted
this text.

 

Is this OK?

 

 

Anthony

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