On 6/7/2010 11:36 AM, Jonathan Wilkes wrote:
How exactly would one "start to work" on the Pd Manual?
More specifically: What is the process by which a new, professionally written manual replaces the old, error-ridden manual?
"Replaces" is perhaps not quite the right word. Last year I wrote and released "The Inform 7 Handbook" (nothing to do with music -- you can find it on my website at www.musicwords.net/if/i7hb.htm, if you're curious), because I felt the existing documentation for Inform 7 was inadequate. My work didn't replace the manual. It simply offered a coherent, all-in-one-place introduction to the basics. I've gotten very good feedback on it from users.
I think that would probably be the way to go with Pd documentation as well -- some sort of handbook that gives users step-by-step instructions on all of the basic things they will need or want to do when getting started. Once they're up and running, they will be able to find more advanced information wherever it's tucked away.
If someone wants to write this, you could probably talk me into giving it an edit. As a relative newbie to Pd, I would be a good test case, and as an experienced tech writer I would be able to make suggestions.
--JA