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Show HN: Get help on any Linux command by typing 'howdoi –' in your terminal

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Re: Show HN: Get help on any Linux command by typing 'howdoi –' in your terminal

#44

Post by rozab »

superasn wrote: post #6
jfim wrote: post #5

There's another 'howdoi' already, FYI: https://github.com/gleitz/howdoi

Oh no.. you're right! I will rename mine. Edit: Though that looks for programming related questions and mine is for more general linux related questions.

Sucks man. Maybe the hivemind can come up with a good pun for you to use...?

Re: Show HN: Get help on any Linux command by typing 'howdoi –' in your terminal

#45

Post by peter_d_sherman »

Hello San Kumar! I looked at your source code, I was amazed that it was only one file, and only 100 lines of source code (less if we subtract whitespace). The less source code a program has while still maintaining functionality and being readable, the better. Which brings me to my next point, functionality.

You saw a problem, a big problem, which is that often even all of the features Unix has for help (man, apropos, etc.) are not sufficient to be able to quickly figure out how to complete a task, such that frequently people have to Google for answers, and why take the extra steps to go to a different window than the command line, search for answers, and return to the command line?

It's extra steps, but more importantly, it breaks "flow".

Also, this is one of the historic reasons that Unix lost the popularity battle with new/inexperienced users to Windows/Mac -- not enough user-friendly help, and this is especially true of Unix's historic command-line help systems.

So, I applaud the problem you chose to solve, and I applaud the elegant way in which you chose to solve it! You are a true Hacker (used in the positive definition, not the negative)!

So with respect to the problem you chose and the code that solves it, I say to you:

Well played Sir, Well played!

I vote that this code should become a standard part of all Unix distributions from now on.

Re: Show HN: Get help on any Linux command by typing 'howdoi –' in your terminal

#46

Post by mellosouls »

gitgud wrote: post #42
Mizza wrote: post #13

There's already a popular `howdoi` that me and a buddy made: https://github.com/gleitz/howdoi

That project looks exactly the same, is this a complete rip-off or coincidence?...

I don't think that's fair - it uses the same name and idea, both of which are pretty obvious if you were going to write one yourself but is implemented in a different language and as more of a hack.

The author should tip the hat if it was inspired by the other, but "rip off" is unnecessary.

Having said that, I'm pleased to know about the python original (?), I will give it a whirl.

Re: Show HN: Get help on any Linux command by typing 'howdoi –' in your terminal

#48

Post by 52-6F-62 »

rozab wrote: post #44
superasn wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh no.. you're right! I will rename mine. Edit: Though that looks for programming related questions and mine is for more general linux related questions.

Sucks man. Maybe the hivemind can come up with a good pun for you to use...?

Could always go way over the top and more formal

    inwhichwaymightiaccomplishthefollowinginquiry
But I doubt that would quite catch on.

Re: Show HN: Get help on any Linux command by typing 'howdoi –' in your terminal

#49

Post by armatav »

superasn wrote: post #6
jfim wrote: post #5

There's another 'howdoi' already, FYI: https://github.com/gleitz/howdoi

Oh no.. you're right! I will rename mine. Edit: Though that looks for programming related questions and mine is for more general linux related questions.

howto
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