When you have downloaded new software (assume it's desktop software) what is the first thing you do to try figure out how to use it?<p>Do you look for how to videos/guides online? Do you just get in and play till you get stuck?<p>I'd love to know the process you go through to the point of becoming an regular user.
On Arch: Randomly pull it in from the repos or AUR, fiddle with it till I am bored, then figure out if I have a real use for it. 90% of the time it is a no, but I have found some really neat stuff out in the wilds.<p>In production: Search for software based on a need. Read the docs first. Install in a dev docker and test it. Ship docker to production once I understand it.
When its Linux/Windows productivity or even general utils. I've often read a solid 1/4 to 1/8 of the documentation trying to ensure this tool will fit my use case, isn't malicious, etc.<p>Once I've downloaded and installed it, I generally just use it.<p>But then I'm not everyone.
Generally I only download/install new software because someone I trust (or a news site I trust) told me to. So my use case is already constrained initially to the use case I was introduced to by someone else.
First, if possible, I verify a PGP signature. :)<p>Then, I dunno, I generally just fumble through it based on the standard desktop user's beliefs of which options go in/under which UI widget.