suggestion: D Book Project

[Gregor Richards]

> Gregor Richards wrote:
> 
>> Derek Parnell wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:17:05 -0700, Gregor Richards wrote:
>>>
>>>> Derek Parnell wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, 04 Sep 2006 02:31:12 -0400, Agent Orange wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> We should write a book about D, or even a D for C++ programmers 
>>>>>> book. It would probably only be a handfull of chapters, and one or 
>>>>>> a couple people could do each chapter. maybe even do it on a wiki 
>>>>>> or something. I dont know how the styles would mesh but I just 
>>>>>> thought this would be pretty cool to have.
>>>>>
>>>>> May I refer you to http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/D_Programming
>>>>>
>>>> That book is not arranged like a book.  Nobody could actually learn 
>>>> D from it, even if it was fleshed out.  It needs to be scrapped.
>>>
>>>
>>> Sorry for my far-too-obtuse reference. ;-)
>>>
>>> What I was trying to get across was that there already exists a wiki
>>> platform for writing online books. As an example, there is the 
>>> beginnings
>>> of a D Reference manual. If one wanted to, one could also use the same
>>> platform to write a "How To Program using D" style of book.
>>> As a start, why not write your proposed TOC as the opening page in 
>>> such a
>>> new endeavor. I know I would like to contribute to it.
>>>
>>
>> The main problem I have with wikibook is that, without somebody as the 
>> official, ordained editor, often people feel that they shouldn't make 
>> large rearrangements, when often it's the best solution.  So, it can 
>> become fairly stagnant after the original editor either becomes 
>> disinterested or simply "finishes" it in his mind.
>>
>>  - Gregor Richards
>>
>> PS: I'll start one this evening.
Lutger wrote:
 > Great, what target audience do you have in mind? From the looks of the
 > TOC it seems beginner. Maybe that is a suggestion, to keep in mind? Then
 >  perhaps the book should also adress or refer to programming and
 > computer topics more general. Another option is to split it in parts or
 > some other way of organization according to background of readers.
 >
 > Lack of books and tutorials is one of the arguments people have to not
 > try D. It's partly true I guess, especially for beginners / novices.
 > Even with one reasonable good wikibook I think D will beat C++ as a
 > first language - and a lot of people start with C++.
 >

Which is sort of terrifying, since C++ is one of those languages that 
hands you a rope and noose-tying instructions.

  - Gregor Richards