A Better Help File

[FCK]

BPO	22691
Nosy	@bitdancer

^{Note: these values reflect the state of the issue at the time it was migrated and might not reflect the current state.}

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GitHub fields:

assignee = None
closed_at = <Date 2014-10-22.13:25:07.446>
created_at = <Date 2014-10-22.05:08:22.943>
labels = ['type-feature', 'invalid', 'docs']
title = 'A Better Help File'
updated_at = <Date 2014-10-23.11:01:38.220>
user = 'https://bugs.python.org/FCK'

bugs.python.org fields:

activity = <Date 2014-10-23.11:01:38.220>
actor = 'FCK'
assignee = 'docs@python'
closed = True
closed_date = <Date 2014-10-22.13:25:07.446>
closer = 'r.david.murray'
components = ['Documentation']
creation = <Date 2014-10-22.05:08:22.943>
creator = 'FCK'
dependencies = []
files = []
hgrepos = []
issue_num = 22691
keywords = []
message_count = 4.0
messages = ['229796', '229797', '229821', '229867']
nosy_count = 3.0
nosy_names = ['r.david.murray', 'docs@python', 'FCK']
pr_nums = []
priority = 'normal'
resolution = 'not a bug'
stage = 'resolved'
status = 'closed'
superseder = None
type = 'enhancement'
url = 'https://bugs.python.org/issue22691'
versions = ['Python 2.7']

[FCK]

Just the General Help that is in Python, doesn't really help. Here's what would help, if every Module, had an example in code of how it was used instead of the Trees. I mean, word trees, well that's what the writing reminds me of, is word trees like you'd produce in an English class. But, a short working piece of code, does allot more for me, than a lecture, you'd have to take a course to understand because of it's use of it's own writing style. It doesn't help to type help() and hit enter.

[FCK]

Just the General Help that is in Python, doesn't really help. Here's what would help, if every Module, had an example in code of how it was used instead of the Trees. I mean, word trees, well that's what the writing reminds me of, is word trees like you'd produce in an English class. But, a short working piece of code, does allot more for me, than a lecture, you'd have to take a course to understand because of it's use of it's own writing style. It doesn't help to type help() and hit enter.

Honestly, the old old version of Quick Basic, that once came with every version of windows back in the 90s. It's help, is a template that I think Python, should follow.

[bitdancer]

The help isn't targeted at teaching you to use the module. The help is targeted at *reminding* you how to use the module after you've read the full documentation, which usually does contain examples (though generally not at the top of the page...they are usually at the bottom or interspersed...it is a *reference* guide after all, the tutorial is a separate thing with yet a different target). I'm afraid, though, that if you find the help to be a wall of words, you'll find the library reference worse. You might be best serve by checking out the book/website "Python Module of the Week" (pymotw.com), which has a more tutorial style and more examples.

I've never see the Quick Basic style docs. I don't know if that style would be applicable to Python modules.

Bottom line right now, though, is that this isn't really a useful issue for the bug tracker. If you want to discuss strategies for making overall improvements in the documentation, that's something that should be done with the group of people who focus on documentation. Their mailing list is docs@python.org if you want to join the team and advocate for a change (your suggestion has already been posted to that mailing list by the bug tracker, FYI).

[FCK]

I've written several languages, I'm no novice but, I also know when to brush
up.Its just how I started, it looks like an opening for others.

-----Original Message-----
From: R. David Murray
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 6:25 AM
To: geek.moses@gmail.com
Subject: [bpo-22691] A Better Help File

R. David Murray added the comment:

The help isn't targeted at teaching you to use the module. The help is
targeted at *reminding* you how to use the module after you've read the full
documentation, which usually does contain examples (though generally not at
the top of the page...they are usually at the bottom or interspersed...it is
a *reference* guide after all, the tutorial is a separate thing with yet a
different target). I'm afraid, though, that if you find the help to be a
wall of words, you'll find the library reference worse. You might be best
serve by checking out the book/website "Python Module of the Week"
(pymotw.com), which has a more tutorial style and more examples.

I've never see the Quick Basic style docs. I don't know if that style would
be applicable to Python modules.

Bottom line right now, though, is that this isn't really a useful issue for
the bug tracker. If you want to discuss strategies for making overall
improvements in the documentation, that's something that should be done with
the group of people who focus on documentation. Their mailing list is
docs@python.org if you want to join the team and advocate for a change (your
suggestion has already been posted to that mailing list by the bug tracker,
FYI).

----------
nosy: +r.david.murray
resolution: -> not a bug
stage: -> resolved
status: open -> closed

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Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org>
<http://bugs.python.org/issue22691\>

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