[ZDP] Other ideas for ZBook marketing

[Dody Gunawinata]

Just another quick drop,

I see Zope as having a 'too many good features' syndrome. So many good
features and concept, that one can just stand  in awe and get confuse,
how do I start ?..Or one just gets greedy and start jumping impatiently
learning from one concept in pieces to another concept, and then
realising everything is useless because to use one feature, one need a
*solid* understanding of the others.

ZBook would resolve that.

Dody

> In other words, the initial learning curve is quick since Zope has so many
> powerful features including DTML and external methods and python which are
> immediately digestible.  Then the curve gets severe.  That's the hump that I
> think is a pain: ZClasses, oodles of new features, namespace issues, scoping
> issues, goofy syntax issues, oodb issues, administration issues, authentication
> issues, membership issues (ZPT where are you?), python expertise issues, etc..
> Putting all these features together in intelligible ways is non-trivial.  The
> docs need to cover each detail in excruciating detail, warts and all.  Other docs
> need to tie it all together.  The tying it all together is not going to come from
> just one doc --- there are (guessing) too many useful variations on a theme for
> any single doc to cover them all (intelligibly).  Zope gets intellectually
> cumbersome beyond the basics (e.g., the namespace issues which have recently
> tripped up even the non-DC expert Zopistas recently on the mailing list).
> 
> I think the docs need to address the basics including gotchas and, if they're
> good enough to get people into a productive and satisfyingly paced self-learning
> mode, other documenters will likely come.  Until then, it seems hit or miss who
> has the time to commit to Zope documentation when getting basics answered is so
> iffy.
> 
> By the way, I'm not targeting anyone in particular (don't even remember who the
> DC person(s) I requested help from where) and know everyone is busy.  I also
> believe the mailing list has some excellent discussions which are very
> worthwhile.  Plus, the new Zope site will be a huge shot in the arm of
> documentation with the How-To's.  It's just that the mailing list and expert
> Zopistas are not a reliable source of information for specific questions for
> anyone trying to use Zope in a real-world situation (i.e., with some urgency)
> with real specific questions.  I hope an exhaustive How-To based FAQ will help
> remedy the problem eventually (not to mention the ZBook).
> 
> 2c,
> 
> = Joe "In Zope Hibernation" Grace =
> 
> Tom Deprez wrote:
> 
> > mmmm... it's very difficult to get some people who want to write down their
> > experiences. And even more difficult to have people who are willing to
> > write a manual of a product! Mostly people start using it. If they like it
> > they go on, if they don't like it, they move to another product. I agree,
> > that DOCUMENTATION helps people to like a product a lot! But,... to have
> > people working on it, that's damn difficult...
> >
> > When we made the first chapters of ZBook, we announced it to all the lists
> > Zope had... unfortunately we didn't get lot's of attention... nobody
> > offered himself to write a part of it... and I think that's something you
> > can't change by marketing... (and you mean by marketing: make it clear to
> > the world that we are working on Zope documentation and need help, isn't it?)
> >
> > Tom.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > ZDP maillist  -  ZDP@zope.org
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> 
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