Re: (ITS#5054) AVA in slapd-meta(5) and slapo-rwm(5)

[hyc@symas.com]

ando@sys-net.it wrote:
> ghenry@suretecsystems.com wrote:
>> <quote who="hyc@symas.com">
>>> ghenry@OpenLDAP.org wrote:
>>>> Full_Name: Gavin Henry
>>>> Version: HEAD
>>>> OS:
>>>> URL: ftp://ftp.openldap.org/incoming/
>>>> Submission from: (NULL) (80.229.93.1)
>>>> Submitted by: ghenry
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Dear All,
>>>>
>>>> It's not clear or explained what AVA means in slapd-meta(5) and
>>>> slapo-rwm(5)
>>> Standard terminology in X.500/LDAP. "Attribute Value Assertion"
>>>> A user was asking in #ldap
>>>>
>>>> I presume it means "Attribute Value"?
>>>>
>>>> If so, I will add an explaination in each man page.
>>> OpenLDAP docs are not intended to explain the basics of LDAP. You're
>>> expected
>>> to already know LDAP or refer to the RFCs for basic terminology.
>> Closing ITS.
> 
> In any case, expanding acronyms when first used sounds "polite"; any
> further reference to the most appropriate RFC should allow newbie
> readers to learn more.

Perhaps, in the Admin Guide. But in the man page? Where do you draw the line? 
Do we have to start every man page with e.g. "the meta backend to slapd (the 
Standalone LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) Daemon) performs basic 
LDAP proxying..." ?

In this case, what good would it do? Would someone who hasn't read any RFCs 
know what "Attribute Value Assertion" means? Anyone who doesn't understand the 
X.500 information model has no business administering slapd. They need to 
absorb that basic groundwork first, and IMO manpages are not the mechanism for 
teaching that.
-- 
   -- Howard Chu
   Chief Architect, Symas Corp.  http://www.symas.com
   Director, Highland Sun        http://highlandsun.com/hyc/
   Chief Architect, OpenLDAP     http://www.openldap.org/project/