[cups.general] Cups

[John]

Hi
I would like to be provocative.
I have successfully worked on a variaty of platforms over the past 35 years. 
Printing is to say the least almost a universal 'computing' requirement and 
here we have cups. The underlying documentation is appallingly bad. The ppd 
file specification is an excellent example. It was clearly written by some 
one who knows what they are doing and assumes that every one else does too. 
While this is great for the 'boys' it's not much use for anybody else 
especially the inexperienced. It's also clear from the questions posted here 
that the same comments  can be applied to cups documentation in general. And 
as to postscript. I first came across that when daisy wheels, dot matrix and 
termi printers where in common use. I was utterly amazed by what went out to 
the printer. These days I am left wondering about the impact on the actual 
print engine in comparison with something like the windoze gdi system. Not an 
area I have ever looked at but curiosity will tempt me one day. Surely this 
whole area is in need of an overhaul. As things stand the best long term 
answer to anybody with cups problems would involve a wholesale move to 
windows. This has allready happened in lots of areas.

If anybody knows of any links that at least correct or help with the 
documention aspects of the above could they please post them. I have no 
alternative other than to use windows in persuit of my profession but I would 
at least like to have some freedom at home. This is a linux box. I like what 
I see. In that particular area I am left wondering why some one hasn't 
produced code that make use of the windows driver that COMES WITH EVERY 
PRINTER THAT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. This has been done with codecs. The case 
is a lot clearer with printers. If one buys a printer one has clearly bought 
the driver that comes with it and the facilities it offers. I am firmly 
convinced that Linux will remain in the backwaters until this area is 
finalised and all installations are at least tidied up and made more 
transparent to the typical user.

john
ps I'm annoyed.