From: Bruce Momjian <maillist@candle.pha.pa.us>
Message-Id: <199910131251.IAA06628@candle.pha.pa.us>
Subject: Re: [DOCS] Re: [HACKERS] Outline for PostgreSQL book
In-Reply-To: <Pine.GSO.3.96.991013140113.18359F-100000@enequist.csd.uu.se>
 from
	Peter Eisentraut at "Oct 13, 1999 02:08:01 pm"
To: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 08:51:12 -0400 (EDT)
CC: PostgreSQL-documentation <docs@postgreSQL.org>,
	PostgreSQL-development <pgsql-hackers@postgreSQL.org>
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> On Wed, 13 Oct 1999, Bruce Momjian wrote:
> 
> > Not sure how to merge current documentation into it.  I would like to
> > point them to URL locations as much as possible.  I thought if I give
> > them enough to get started, and to understand how the current docs fit
> > together, that would be good.
> 
> Personally, I always think that computer books that point you to URLs to
> get the complete information are less than desirable. The very point of
> reading the book is that you don't have to get up to your computer all the
> time. Books should be self-contained and add to the existing documentation
> since otherwise I won't need it.
> 
> Also, think about the fact that the online documentation might change more
> quickly than a book is published. In a magazine you can do that, but in a
> book that's questionable. I have a few books that are only about two years
> old and the information in them is still very valid, but the URLs with all
> the examples and all don't work anymore. Who knows why, I don't have the
> time to find out.
> 

I just don't want to produce a 500 page book to cover these topics.

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