[Numpy-discussion] docstring suggestions

[Robert Kern]

On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 14:58,  <josef.pktd at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 3:47 PM, Robert Kern <robert.kern at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 14:42,  <josef.pktd at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 3:29 PM, Robert Kern <robert.kern at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 14:26, David Goldsmith <d.l.goldsmith at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 10:57 AM, Robert Kern <robert.kern at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 12:19, David Goldsmith <d.l.goldsmith at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > PS: please, if you don't mind, in the future post docstring "complaints"
>>>>>> > at
>>>>>> > scipy-dev (numpy-discussion has many more subscribers, many of whom
>>>>>> > probably
>>>>>> > don't immediately care about any particular docstring problem, whereas
>>>>>> > anyone who is working on the docstrings is - hopefully - subscribed to
>>>>>> > scipy-dev); thanks.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> numpy docstrings get discussed on numpy-discussion.
>>>>>
>>>>> Then is it just the Wiki and related issues that we ask people to discuss @
>>>>> scipy-dev?
>>>>
>>>> I don't see a reason to do that, either.
>>>
>>> doceditor not moin Wiki, that was the policy that Ralf and David
>>> followed since last summer to have all docediting questions in one
>>> place.
>>
>> Is the volume of questions really so large to justify the
>> inconvenience to the questioners? It's one thing to direct someone to,
>> say, the matplotlib list when asking matplotlib questions, but no one
>> is going to guess that they need to go to scipy-dev to ask a question
>> about the doceditor when they run into a problem editing a numpy
>> docstring.
>
> No, I agree with you, short questions can be answered wherever they
> happen, especially if they are on topic.
>
> But, if it turns into a discussion about the internal structure of how
> doc strings are generated, then maybe David can redirect the traffic.

I just don't see the reason for all that hassle, and it is a
substantial hassle. You redirect people in order to get their question
in front of the audience that can help them best or for truly
off-topic discussions. As far as I'm concerned, questions about the
doceditor, which drives the documentation for both numpy and scipy,
are on-topic for any of either of the projects' lists. You don't
redirect people just to keep things tidy. Mailing lists are messy
things no matter what you do.

-- 
Robert Kern

"I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless
enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as
though it had an underlying truth."
  -- Umberto Eco