[ZDP] Beginners Guides

[Chris Withers]

> > Hence a 'SIG portal', it works for me...
> 
> But not automatically with what I have programmed. So, I would
> need to allow Sub-Portals inside Portals. I would also need to
> list these Sub-Portals just like the Subjects of the other
> Portals. 

I think it could be useful for the SIGs and a few other things we're
touching on, so maybe it's worth implementing?

> So, we need some small abstracts for each
> portal so people can select their destination. 

> Otherwise, an introduction is a
> good idea. Wouldn't it be a good idea to insert texts/introductions
> depending on the last time someone visited the homepage (using a cookie and
> a simple dtml-if/else), and afterwards use a link (like: more or short
> intro) instead?

Yup. Like all this, especially Rik's ideas for customization. This could
mean that, eventually, experienced users would see nothing but the
portal links. 
Maybe even narrow this down so they can show custom portal links or just
hide links they don't use?

> "We provide entry points for every Zope user who wants to find Zope
> Documentation. You can join your community Portal and  share information
> with people who are interested in the same thing as you are"

Like this a lot :-)

> Hey, this looks really good ! Do you want to have the Web Designers
> in the central position ?

Thanks. Web designers? not particularly... just had an odd number of
portals for the top section, the idea was to have all the main portals
at the top with the more specialist ones in a section at the bottom...

> [rh] The tutorial (which is basically a canned hands-on session) is not
> enough. Newbies also need some more 'theoretical' (read: higher level,
> conceptual) texts to get them acquainted with Zope and it's (basic)
> concepts: what is dtml, what can I use it for, how? What are all these
> objects I can choose from. I have a sql database, can I connect it to Zope?
> How? And then. Believe me, I have seen people struggle with this.

Okay so maybe extend the New Zope Users portal:
-Quickstart: stuff already mentioned, lots of linking to the Tutorial
-Theory: the stuff Rik mentioned above (which I think is VERY
important...)

> [rh] see above. Moreover, as far as I have seen it, first time users stumble
> blindly through the tutorial, do not know what is happening, have little
> affinity with the subject and do not care what is happening. I think they
> learn best by getting somehing done. 

I agree, which is why I like the idea of a Quickstart to get this bit
out of their system. People get frustrated very quickly if they can't
ACHIEVE something (see Nick Petreley's recent article on Zope) but after
they've done this they will, quite naturally, want to get some 'Zen'...
which of course is where the theory guide comes in...

...which should cover this part of Rik's comment quite comfortably:

> Let's try and give them a hand in
> determining _what_ can be done with Zope, why Zope is good for it and how to
> do it. In this last part the tutorial may come in as a handy illustration.

> Yes. Hm, perhaps we should consult with Amos about this. I'll be happy to
> contribute something.

So, who's going to write the email then? ;-)
(to be fair, I'm a bit surprised that he's not part of ZDP, or at least
tracks the ZDP list...)

cheers,

Chris

PS:
> happy to help contributing (if i can find the time ;-))

This seems to be a very common problem with EVERYONE in the Zope
community. There's so much cool stuff we could all do, it's just trying
to find the time to do it ;-)