[documentation] What is a "user"?

[Steven Peck]

A Drupal 'user' is generally considered an implementor of Drupal.  This
means developer, site-admin and power user.  This fit's your criterea 1
and to a large degree 2 depending on what access rights your
site-administrator' has.  

Your use case #3 is an end-user.  The end-user documentation in the
handbook pre-date's me but was not intended for 'end-users' to use from
Drupal.org.  It was more intended for people to use as a base and to
customize to their site's needs.

You are right that the documentation is not consistent.  This is a
consequence of multiple contributors over a long period of time.  Though
edited, some of the handbook content has beeen around for years.  

A user of Drupal is just that.  Using Consultant or administrator adds a
layor of potential confusion.  I am not a developer or a consultant but
I do setup and implement Drupal based sites as well as give advise and
support.  

Perhaps be more consistent and up front about the User - End User
definitions....?  Not sure, anyone else?

Note: Discussion that arrives at work to add to helping people out is
generally a 'good thing'.  I do not see discussion or constructive
critism as bad things.  Feel free to improve text, verbage or
approaches.

Steven


> -----Original Message-----
> From: documentation-bounces at drupal.org 
> [mailto:documentation-bounces at drupal.org] On Behalf Of 
> Jayadvaita Swami
> Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 10:37 AM
> To: documentation at drupal.org
> Subject: [documentation] What is a "user"?
> 
> Steven Peck wrote:
> 
> > What do you mean
> >'user'?  A Drupal 'user' is in fact a site admin or someone who sets
> >up Drupal.  Not an 'end-user' so generally a consultant fits this
> >criterea...
> 
> A general comment: Though I haven't checked for specific instances, it
> seems to me the Drupal documentation sometimes employs the word "user"
> inconsistently.
> 
> A user could be:
> 
> 	1. A consultant or techie who sets up a site for you.
> 
> 	2. The day-to-day site administrator
> 
> 	3. A person who logs on to the site
> 
> The Drupal "End user guide" assumes (3). But above Steven Peck uses
> sense (2), or perhaps (1).
> 
> This seems to point to a need for establishing consistent terminology.
> My tentative suggestion:
> 
> 	1. Consultant
> 	2. Administrator
> 	3. User
> 
> Also: When the documentation speaks directly to one, and only one, of
> these three (though others might of course listen in), the best word
> is probably "you."
> 
> (By the way, I don't at all mean to find fault with Steven Peck. His
> texts, overall, are *enormously* helpful.)
> 
> 	J. Swami
> 	www.jswami.info
> --
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>