Hi Jonathan,
I think it can be, of course it is not for everybody. it was for me too :9

However, as somebody already answered, few things could improve the beg phase of a learning curve.
The plugin introduced in Pd 0.43 which shows a category dropdown menu which can be used to recall objects in a easier way and _above all_ without knowing about their existence could be one of those enhancement.
Also I wonder about a stronger background color difference among few objects (i.e. a different color for [inlet]/[outlet], [send]/[receive], or tilde objects).
And probably more recent embedded tutorials to get started (and I feel ashamed I still didn't contribute, many thanks to all the people who already did it).

Anyway learning Pd is _not_ easy and it doesn't have to be. Hence the learning curve and learning tools could be improved, but you still should be aware that if you want to be able to master such a flexible computing capability you need to get your hands (and mind) dirty. I think it's worth, and I wouldn't like it to be easier.
Studying and Teaching I found Pd can operate kind of "natural selection" that sometimes is needed in some context.

On Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 3:26 AM, Jonathan Wilkes <jancsika@yahoo.com> wrote:

--- On Wed, 3/17/10, Marco Donnarumma <devel@thesaddj.com> wrote:

From: Marco Donnarumma <devel@thesaddj.com>
Subject: Re: [PD] Pd, Max/Msp, Reaktor, Plogue Bidule... How do these compare?
To: quietdidit@gmail.com
Cc: pd-list@iem.at
Date: Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 11:16 AM

>As many other said before, I personally think there is nothing to >compare. All of them are quite separate environments, and i mean not only >computing capabilities, flexibility and GUI, but above all each community >supporting the projects.

>"this" is not better than "that", it's only about what fit best your >needs.
>So first point out which are exactly your needs. Learning Pd can be >difficult and exhausting in the beg, but once you get familiar with it, I >can assure you it's only pleasure. And there is a world of things you >can't do with any other software. But you have to find out what.

Hi Marco,
What do you think makes learning Pd difficult and exhausting in the
beginning? Is it just a general learning curve, or are there speficic
issues you think could be improved for the future?

-Jonathan

--
Marco Donnarumma aka TheSAD
Independent New Media Arts Professional, Performer, Teacher - Edinburgh, UK

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