As some of you know, I have been working on documentation Squeak/EToys: reference manual and tutorials. I have been collecting and rewriting existing docs as well as writing original material; given family and work commitments, this summer's output has been less than I anticipated, and what exists is not ready for public consumption. Nevertheless, over the next two weeks I will begin posting documentation material for public comment.
What is the difference between public comment and public consumption? The materials are incomplete and exist only as unformatted text with no graphics (only text comments to mark where graphics are needed). I put them out in an effort to see if the language is clear and if the content is headed in the right direction. I also put them out because I believe that the authoring process needs to be a conversation: I need to know what users need to know. Finally, I need the help of the community, not as authors, but as archivists and resources: I hope long time Squeakers will help to point out existing material and explain the uses and use of various tools; I hope new Squeakers will point out what needs clarification. Docs for public consumption must be complete, well formatted, and easily accessible from within Squeak (and the Squeakland site).
With your help that day will come sooner rather than later.
The public comment site (a Swiki) can be found here:
http://workshop.madeleinelengle.org/SqueakManual
While a Swiki is always a work in progress, please give me a couple of weeks to finish constructing it.
Best,
John
I apologize for how slow I have been in posting tutorials/documentation; While I have written several pieces indicated in the table of contents, I realized, after posting the first two, that they needed significaant proofing (I didn't want all comments to be about typos) and some light formatting.
As I just mentioned, two tutorials have been posted--"Getting Started in Squeak" and "Doing Turtle Things in Squeak." These, together with the Reference Manual and "A World of Simple Programs: Games that Work Like the Real World," will be among the most significant pieces. I am eager for comments; to help in that respect, the Swiki is set up so you can add comments to the margins.
Back to work now,
John
squeakland@lists.squeakfoundation.org