# Examples Added to TCPdump and Dig Man Pages Beginner-friendly usage guides for network tools have been updated. - **Source:** [Julia Evans](https://jvns.ca) - **Published:** 2026-03-10 - **Topic:** [Software & Engineering](https://brifing.si/c/engineering) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/d589f5fa-e6a8-4a2a-bc63-b8489e2b0d78 ## Importance of Documentation Documentation for network management tools is crucial for users to utilize them efficiently. Especially for powerful tools like tcpdump and dig, beginners need guides supported with basic examples to get started. ## TCPdump Examples TCPdump is a command-line tool for analyzing network traffic. The newly added examples help users perform basic packet capturing and filtering operations easily. Practical tips, like using the '-v' flag for live packet counting, are included. ## Dig Guide The dig tool, used for DNS queries, now includes more examples in its manual. Users are guided step-by-step from simple DNS queries to more complex configurations. This is particularly helpful for those new to network management. ## User Feedback Documentation updates were shaped by feedback from users and maintainers. Adding basic examples for infrequent users was widely appreciated. This collaboration plays a key role in improving documentation quality. ## Technical Challenges Updating man pages written in the roff language presented technical challenges. A custom script converting Markdown to roff simplified the process. This approach marks an important step in making documentation processes more accessible. ## Future Work Improving documentation requires ongoing effort to enhance user experience. The updates for tcpdump and dig set an example for other tools' documentation. Accurate and user-friendly documentation can significantly boost efficiency in network management. ## Sources covering this story - https://jvns.ca/blog/2026/03/10/examples-for-the-tcpdump-and-dig-man-pages/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._