Re: [boost] ATTENTION: Library requirements..

Subject: Re: [boost] ATTENTION: Library requirements..
From: Andrey Semashev (andrey.semashev_at_[hidden])
Date: 2016-01-11 10:03:05

On 2016-01-11 17:42, Paul A. Bristow wrote:
>
> I use the PDF version regularly when updating Boost.Math - mainly to find things that I know are
> there (because I wrote them!)  but can't find where.
>
> It's the find/search power that is the killer application. (And it is portable of course).
>
> And all this discussion focussing on the *look* of documentation is ignoring our main weakness -
>
> how to FIND what you want to know???

Personally, I never search for anything in html. This is just nearly 
useless because even if I find what I'm looking for the result is 
difficult to read (in a text viewer, which for me is mc in 99% of cases 
and far in the other 1%). That is assuming my search doesn't produce a 
lot of noise results due to html markup.

I've never seriously used pdf docs for Boost. I understand that it 
should be better in terms of noise results, but it just too inconvenient 
and heavy for me to use. Since most of the work I do is done from mc or 
a code editor like QtCreator, the pdf viewer feels like a fifth wheel 
(with a flat tire).

So, when I search for something, I search in either the source code or 
the docs sources. Which is why I like QuickBook - it is perfectly 
readable in the source form and doesn't clutter the content with the markup.

I'll emphasize that the above is written from the perspective of looking 
for something. When I want to learn something, i.e. read a considerable 
amount of text, possibly following links, I use html. It beats pdf as 
navigation is much easier.