vault backup: 2026-03-30 22:54:00

xy-problem.md

@@ -18,35 +18,35 @@ tags:
 
 > [!quote] [_How To Ask Questions The Smart Way_ --- Eric Steven Raymond](http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html)
 > > [!quote] ["Questions Not To Ask"](http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#classic)
-> > **Q:** How can I use X to do Y?  
-> > 
+> > **Q:** How can I use X to do Y?
+> >
 > > **A:** If what you want is to do Y,
 > > you should ask that question without pre-supposing the use of a method
 > > that may not be appropriate.
 > > Questions of this form often indicate a person who is not merely ignorant about X,
 > > but confused about what problem Y they are solving
 > > and too fixated on the details of their particular situation.
-> 
+>
 > > [!quote] ["Describe the goal, not the step"](http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#goal)
 > > If you are trying to find out how to do something
 > > (as opposed to reporting a bug),
 > > begin by describing the goal.
 > > Only then describe the particular step towards it
 > > that you are blocked on.
-> > 
+> >
 > > Often, people who need technical help
 > > have a high-level goal in mind
 > > and get stuck on what they think is one particular path towards the goal.
 > > They come for help with the step,
 > > but don't realize that the path is wrong.
 > > It can take substantial effort to get past this.
-> > 
+> >
 > > **Stupid:** How do I get the color-picker on the FooDraw program
 > > to take a hexadecimal RGB value?
-> > 
+> >
 > > **Smart:** I'm trying to replace the color table on an image with values of my choosing.
 > > Right now the only way I can see to do this is by editing each table slot,
 > > but I can't get FooDraw's color picker to take a hexadecimal RGB value.
-> > 
+> >
 > > The second version of the question is smart.
 > > It allows an answer that suggests a tool better suited to the task.