Re: Programming beginners' documentation

[KHMan <keinhong@...>]

Luiz Henrique de Figueiredo wrote:
>> Does anyone have any suggestions for a beginner-friendly Lua install,
>> something better than a command-line executable? Hmmm... any candidates?
> 
> http://lua-users.org/lists/lua-l/2008-05/msg00020.html
> 
> but he did not publish any URLs... he sent me this in a separate message:
> 	http://yellosoft.us/index.php?id=64

Unfortunately, I think a lower barrier may be needed. The posting
didn't mention any documentation is installed. If it's targeted
for non-experts, things like a useful Readme plus a basic tutorial
or startup notes is needed. Also the reference documentation and a
shortcut link to the online PIL first edition. Even the installer
might have certain informational pages to ease the user into the
first steps. Also, sample scripts, etc. Stuff like that.

Of course, all of this needs resources and effort to support and
produce. But if it is to be targeted to beginners, we need to
mentally put ourselves in the position of a real beginner and see
what we can do to lower the barriers. Sort of a product usability
study.

BTW, I just tested the 32-bit Win32 installer. It does not install
any menu shortcuts. There's no documentation, no text files, no
shortcuts. Just the executables. It appears to be very far from a
beginner-usable installation.

A beginner-usable installation needs much more work, and if it is
distributed by a third party, it would probably need to be
acknowledged and supported as semi-official by Lua authors or this
community.

-- 
Cheers,
Kein-Hong Man (esq.)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia