Mesanna's Weblog

The Ubuntu team are working on a user manual that will be included with each new release of the operating system. The manual would serve as a beginner’s guide to Ubuntu and Linux and would include guides and How-Tos to aid new users.

Ubuntu hopes to include the first manual with Lucid Lynx, due in April this year, and the manual would be updated every 6 months thereafter to time with the release of each new version of Ubuntu.

According to the Wiki page, the manual is “Designed to be as user-friendly and easy to follow as possible, it should provide the first point of reference to any Ubuntu newcomer with lots of information in one easy to access PDF file. “

The wiki goes on to outline the goals of project:

This guide will differ from many similar^ proprietary publications in many ways:

• It is entirely community based, written and maintained, unlike proprietary Guides/Manuals.
• It will not only be relevant to one release, as it will be updated every 6 months.
• It will contain no advertising.
• It will have a very easy to follow writing style, and follow the Ubuntu style guidlines.
• It will always be free of charge.
• It will be written for a specific release, before that release comes out – instead of being written during the support cycle, and released months after.
• The relevant version of the manual will come out on the same day as the Ubuntu version it pertains to. Ie, the Ubuntu Lucid Lynx manual will be released on the day Lucid Lynx comes out.

^Similar meaning other publications that are in a PDF format, written in the style of a chapter-based book.

Why is it different to the Ubuntu Online Docs?

• The Ubuntu Manual will have all the information in one place, instead of spread out all over the internet.
• It will be easier to read, and will incorporate more screenshots and step by step tutorials.
• It will be conveniently distributed as a PDF file.
• It will be written in a consistent style, so it is easier to follow.
• And, as much as the Ubuntu Docs team try to keep everything up-to-date, often documentation remains unchanged from its original release. (In some cases, as old as 6.06) Our manual will be 100% current for every release.

I think this is an excellent idea. Although there is a ton of information on the web (and the Ubuntu forums are a fabulous resource), sometimes you just need a little hand-holding. For many first time users, Linux is a whole new world and it can be daunting. I recall searching Google about some problem or other as a complete newbie and not having much success because I wasn’t using the correct terminology. But if you’re new to Linux, you don’t know the terminology. If you’re stubborn though (and I am), you’ll usually figure it out, but so many people would just throw up their hands and give up. A beginner’s guide on the Desktop covering concepts like how to install software and set up the internet, how to set up peripherals like printers and scanners, and how the file system basically works (no, Linux doesn’t have a Program Files folder!) would be extremely helpful. If they include links to the Ubuntu online documentation, as well as the forums, this could be a very useful document.

I’ve thought for a while that including a little introductory video with every installation would be beneficial for new users. It wouldn’t need souped-up graphics and a soundtrack – just a basic video with some screenshots and a voice-over explaining how to do the simple things that confound every newbie! Perhaps they’ll do this one day, but a proper manual is a step in the right direction.

However, no RTFM jokes please!