Best ‘readme’ File Ever!!!

by Abhinav Kaiser on July 31, 2008

I got to confess! I never read readme files, ever. Even for hardware or software installations, I prefer to figure it out by myself. But, things might just change for me in the future. A readme file from gnome-cups-manager had me in a fix over the things I could have missed earlier. If you’re not aware, the readme file is for a Gnome graphical front-end for a tool used to manage print queues and adding printers/etc.

Once upon a time there was a printer who lived in the woods. He was a lonely printer, because nobody knew how to configure him. He hoped and hoped for someone to play with.

One day, the wind passed by the printer’s cottage. “Whoosh,” said the wind. The printer became excited. Maybe the wind would be his friend!

“Will you be my friend?” the printer asked.

“Whoosh,” said the wind.

“What does that mean?” asked the printer.

“Whoosh,” said the wind, and with that it was gone.

The printer was confused. He spent the rest of the day thinking and jamming paper (for that is what little printers do when they are confused).

The next day a storm came. The rain came pouring down, darkening the morning sky and destroying the printer’s garden. The little printer was upset. “Why are you being so mean to me?” he asked.

“Pitter Patter, Pitter Patter,” said the rain.

“Will you be my friend?” the printer asked shyly.

“Pitter Patter, Pitter Patter,” said the rain, and then it left and the sun came out.

The printer was sad. He spent the rest of the day inside, sobbing and blinking lights cryptically (for that is what little printers do when they are sad).

Then one day, a little girl stumbled into the printer’s clearing in the woods. The printer looked at this curious sight. He didn’t know what to think.

The little girl looked up at him. “Will you be my friend?” she asked.

“Yes,” said the printer.

“What is your name?” asked the little girl.

“HP 4100TN”, replied the printer.

“My name is gnome-cups-manager” said the little girl.

The printer was happy. He spent the rest of the day playing games and printing documents, for that is what little printers do when they are happy.

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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }

42gems August 1, 2008 at 2:42 am

lol, thats hilarious! definitely the best readme file ever

kaesenchin August 6, 2008 at 12:37 pm

*sob*
that is so touching..
wish there are more readme file like this.. :-)

Kunther August 6, 2008 at 5:10 pm

I think that if there is no way I can make it work for myself, there is something wrong with the program.

It has no sense that I have to read a readme file o having to remember things in order to make it work.

Carlos August 6, 2008 at 8:31 pm

lol…
really the best .. thanks for share :)

Spuffler August 6, 2008 at 8:58 pm

And to think that people flame me when say Linux documentation is usually useless.

KnifeySpooney August 7, 2008 at 1:36 am

lol.

guitarMan666 August 7, 2008 at 5:41 am

lmao!

J-Fo August 8, 2008 at 7:43 am

I almost had a little cry just then…

ukion August 8, 2008 at 8:05 am

I don’t read readme files (linux docs), but it is not late to start :).

Pukin A Lot August 8, 2008 at 12:57 pm

Ugh you’ve got to be kidding me! BAAARRRRFFFFF!

darklooshkin August 9, 2008 at 4:56 am

download where?

johnnypanda August 9, 2008 at 7:54 pm

touching. really.

Lakshmi Mareddy August 13, 2008 at 12:05 am

Ha Ha :) Very well written!!!

Cide August 13, 2008 at 2:28 am

hahahah that is absolutely brilliant! I laughed hard at the end hahahaha (if you can’t tell already)

accessko August 16, 2008 at 3:23 pm

Haha I like it very much. I stumble this article.
I got a big smile when I read the girls name!

design August 19, 2008 at 9:24 pm

Disgustingly cute read me file

Muhammad Siyab August 21, 2008 at 12:40 am

Very touching!

Aaron August 21, 2008 at 9:44 pm

Awesome!

Aaron
HP Linux Imaging and Printing

Chrissy762 August 23, 2008 at 8:51 pm

If all readme files were like this. I would definately read them. A few illustrations and you have a childrens book for the up coming generations.
Good job!!!

mossie June 28, 2009 at 4:47 pm

Brilliant

kkb August 16, 2009 at 10:10 am

Nice..

Vijay Joshi October 10, 2009 at 5:28 am

Really best and coolest readme. Wish everyone creates readme like it

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