Covering the basics...

[agoodpaddlin]

Something that happens on a lot of free software is the devs and users get so comfortable with the systems, they forget how steep the learning curve can be for new users. This results in the feature requests getting quite personal and specific. Devs will only code what THEY want and think is necessary and tend to forget about covering the basics.

Upon being introduced to Minetest (i love it) I have discovered a serious lack of features and info that will make it easier for more users to get on board.
For example, the server client setup has little explanation, is heavy on jargon and is not labelled very well.
The wiki doesn't even mention what ANNOUNCE SERVER even means let alone mention it on the server pages.
https://wiki.minetest.net/Server
https://wiki.minetest.net/Setting_up_a_server

Once you actually create a server, you'd have expected it to at least show up on local LAN. It doesn't. Even the crappy knockoff voxel games on tablets support that feature. Wouldn't this be a major drawcard for a free building game like this?

Mods! The wiki explains how to install mods. Where are the instructions for using the GUI and how and where to enable mods for worlds? Why command line for everything?

Have I got this wrong? I feel like I'm trying to join an exclusive club for those who have invested the time to learn the commands and work out the glitches and have to do the hard yards to qualify.

Reading the forums is hit and miss. Responses are usually quite short and the expected knowledge levels are high.
One person in response to a local LAN connection inquiry was "Enable port 30011 on your network and it will work".
Where?! On my firewall, on the router? Both?

Like I said, the games great, and Im always impressed by the organisation of these opensource projects, but if I wanted my 11 and 9yr olds, who are MORE than capable of playing the game, to attempt this on their own, I don't think they would have succeeded without my assistance. Specifically to play via local network.

I think this is a valid comment from a new user who's not totally green, but is getting frustrated at the lack of features and info for what seems to be the entry level functions of the software.

[bhree]

We can actually start from here https://www.minetest.net/ yeah the letters are too small on top corner of this forum. Sometimes it is not very easy to see from other side point of view. Devs used to see codes and how it is supposed to be working and pure players avoid technical details and this requires somekind of bridges. Both sides don't have all time and resource to understand each other and will be helped by any contribution.

There are video scattered on youtube like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PToZ8pC1H0 but it is outdated since the contributor doesn't obliged to maintain update. The goodness of open source project is when you decided to use it then you're part of it. Your children represent end user and shouldn't have to understand all technical details, but you can make friendlier introduction for them and we'll be very happy if you can share your introductory material.

I'm one who is into technical aspect and may not give valid answer.

[Astrobe]

Mods! The wiki explains how to install mods. Where are the instructions for using the GUI

Well if the GUI needs instructions we really failed hard...

and how and where to enable mods for worlds?

Are you using MT 5.0? The new mod manager let you download mods from within the game itself.

Why command line for everything?
[...]
Have I got this wrong? I feel like I'm trying to join an exclusive club for those who have invested the time to learn the commands and work out the glitches and have to do the hard yards to qualify.

This one is totally unfair. I have installed by hand tons of mods before MT 5.0 and never had to fire up a command line. You won't get much friends here with unfair statements and passive-aggressive tone.

I think this is a valid comment from a new user who's not totally green, but is getting frustrated at the lack of features and info for what seems to be the entry level functions of the software.

I sometimes feel like that too. When it happens, I tell myself "do something about it yourself or STFU". If I can't do something about it because I don't have the skills, I find something else I can contribute to (for instance, get a wiki account and improve some articles...) then I feel comfortable with asking for the thing I want, cause I don't want to be a total leech.

[Astrobe]

"Public server" instead of "Announce server" would probably be better understood. Granted, someone hosting a public server should know what they are doing, but a better label would let less savvy users know that it is not what they want.

On the LAN thing, we know that networking is hard (especially for cross-platform software). But maybe one could have a "Home server" checkbox (or maybe a radio to switch between "public" and "home" server if radio buttons are available) and have the GUI display the IP (let's hope they don't use IPv6...) to be entered by the clients?

[843jdc]

I tell people that if they want to know if their programs are easy to use, to get someone that doesn't know what they are doing to use it.

[migdyn]

If you have a problem with using a command line or even using a GUI to enable mods for world then go buy a Minecraft license for 25 euros. There you will get a tech support telephone line nice GUIs for everything and you'll be able to rent servers directly from Microsoft in-game.

[twoelk]

oh dear
it's allready some 7 weeks that we officially have the mods repository and no one has yet written a manual.
tsstss - now of you go you lazy minetesters
and make it better than all those other opensource-only-work-at-what-you-enjoy projects and go write a manual before you publish something new - off to the wiki now you go and do some boring homework before you go playing with the shiny new toy.

and just for those that dont know or have already forgoten here is the way we had to install mods for years until this march: https://wiki.minetest.net/Installing_Mods
and anything not in the repository still has to be added.