I was using this blog entry to install MAMP(apache, mysql, php on mac) . The instructions are good and the author has invested a lot of time in working on it - however I ended up making the same mistake as one of the people who commented on this blog - The step "Next you need to run /wp-admin/install.php" had me trying to run it from the command line.

The point is, I wasted sometime on an error that had been discovered before:

  • If the author had fixed his blog entry to be clearer
  • or the commenter had been able to place an inline comment in the text
  • or the commenter had been able to edit the blog entry like a twiki page
  • or I had read all the comments at the end before starting

I would have been able to save myself some timeNow that I am blogging I can see a confusing overlaps between all of these web publishing systems

  • wordpress as a public diary
  • delicious allows me to store bookmarks - (I could also just comment on a link in my blog)
  • blogging can be used to store instructions on how to do something (like the MAMP install example) - but a twiki would be better to help support collaboration
  • Sometimes I want to blog about something personal and just a random wild thought - but this conflicts a blog presenting a professional image.

There are different needs:

  • a place to display a cool image of oneself - (facebook vs blog vs flickr)
  • a place to display a professional image of oneself - (blog vs website vs linkedin)
  • a place to record memories - (flickr, facebook)
  • a place to track relationships (facebook, linkedin, flickr)
  • a place to store bookmarks and comment on them (delicious vs blog)
  • a public podium to pontificate and philosophize (blog)
  • a public podium to communicate with people (blog )
  • a place to collaborate (twikis vs blogs)
  • a place to help others (flickr, answers.yahoo.com..)

This is a little like the overlap of uses cases you find in flickr streams

When I publish photos I have conflicting forces:

  • I want to show off what a good photographer I am by only posting my very best photos

conflicts with

  • I want to upload a photo (even if its bad) of a friend so they can see it

conflicts with

  • I want to upload a photo that means nothing to anyone but will remind me of what I did on that day

conflicts with

  • I want to share drunken party photos with some people but not others

conflicts with

  • I want to present a cool image of myself

conflicts with

  • I want to present a professional image of myself