When my friends talk about what books they're reading and it comes back to me I just joke and say "oh I largely read non-fiction".
I read every manual, decision tree, process document, whatever lands in front of me.
RTFM is life
this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2025
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This is my super power. Easiest way to look like the smartest person in the room every once in a while.
WTFM is job one. Honestly WTFMs and RTFMs should just be a requirement to any computer science degree.
CS101: RTFM - Someone has already helped you.
CS102: WTFM - You also need to help others.
CS103: FTFM - What to do when help isn't provided.
CS104: GDFL - What to do when there is no more help.
Edit: Other courses I teach include
CS201: WTFPM - Code Quality
CS202: UTC - The only time that makes sense CS203: 1 - Counting for machines
Technical writing was a required class in my CS program. Is that not the norm?
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I know about man and man man, but why is there no man man man?
Yeah sure, unless the manual reads like a white paper from the 80s... Ya know like every man page ever
I still have manuals for appliances I no longer have.
Username checks out, RTFM makes most people psychotic. Not me though I love the funny words and the voices they speak to me with.
The issues come up when I read the manuals and they do not explain anything to a person who doesn't already know most things.
Linux fails in too many places at having instructions written by people who care even slightly whether humans will ever be able to comprehend them.
I did not expect genuinely invaluable advice β not just for Linux β but for life in general on here LOL