[PD] [PD-announce] Proof Me! PD FLOSS Manual

[Derek Holzer]

Dear Pure Dataheads,

following the PD FLOSS Booksprint in Croatia last month, the 0.1 version
of the Pure Data FLOSS Manual is now online!

http://flossmanuals.net/puredata

The Pure Data FLOSS Manual is conceived as a beginner's approach to Pure
Data which, unlike most of the existing documentation, doesn't assume that
the user has a degree in mathematics or computer science before they get
started! Currently, information on installing and configuring PD, the
interface, dataflow tutorials and audio tutorials are included. The
FLOSS Manuals philosophy is that chapters from the different available
FLOSS Manuals can be "remixed" to create new manuals (for course readers
& curriculums, classroom manuals, etc etc). Everything is published
under the GNU General Public License.

Adam Hyde, Luka Prinčič and myself busted some serious ass to get this
up, and now we're ready to take on our toughest customers: YOU.

We'd really appreciate it if members of this list could read through the
chapters, keeping the following points in mind:

1) Is the text clear and consistent?
2) If technical jargon is used, is it defined inline or included in the
Glossary in the back?
3) Are the tutorials complete, or are some steps or information missing?
4) Grammar/spelling, of course
5) Could each chapter exist as a self-standing tutorial outside the
context of the PD Manual (i.e. could it be "remixed" with chapters from
other FLOSS Manuals without losing anything)?

Those not so familiar with Pure Data are encouraged to go through the
different tutorials and give feedback as to whether they need more (or
less!) information, and whether different parts are redundant or need to
be split off from the chapters they are in. Experienced PD users are
also welcome, of course!

Also, we are still seeking help getting graphics and screenshots for
several sections. And there is a HUGE to-do list if you want to get more
seriously involved in the project!

Thanks and best wishes!
Derek

----TO DO BY CHAPTER LIST----


# Pure Data
# Introduction

---cover image, important!

# WhatIsGraphicalProgramming

----icons/graphics to go with concepts in text
----icons of modular synth with patch cables or similar analog "patching"
----flowchart of inputs and outputs between PD and audio, MIDI, network,
video, Arduino/motors, etc
----chart describing relationship of PD to Externals

# WhatIsDigitalAudio

----icons/graphics to go with concepts in text
----icon of speaker cone movement
----icon of microphone to voltage to soundcard
----icon of soundcard to voltage to speaker movement
----icon of clipping audio
----icon/graph illustrating Nyquist foldover

# Installing
# Linux (source)
# Windows
# InstallingOSX

---Updated Extended installation instruction
---Screenshots of installation

# ConfiguringPD

---Screenshots of config menus from all three operating systems
(slightly different locations on OSX, Windows, Linux)
---Better introduction to Path, Startup and how to configure Externals
with Extended

# TroubleShooting

---"I don't hear any sound!" Screenshot "compute audio" button + audio
settings in PD, Maybe also audio control panels from different OSes?
---"The test tone sounds distorted!" Add screencap of testtone.pd patch
---"I'm not seeing any audio input!"audio settings in PD, with inputs
and outputs highlighted
---"I don't see any MIDI input!" Screencaps: audio/midi prefernces with
midi highlighted, OSX: Audio MIDI Setup.app, Linux: QJackctl, Windows:
MIDI Ox/MIDI Yoke Junction
---"I get the message "... couldn't create" when I open a patch and
there's a dashed line around my object!" Screencap: patch with uncreated
objects (missing path/external problem)


# Getting Started
# StartingPD

---"Starting PD with the Clickable Icon": OSX, Linux screencaps

# TheInterface

---Screenshots of different menus from all three OSes

# AudioTutorials

---"Introduction": block diagram of synthesizer architecture, as
desribed in text
---Formatting: messages like "bang" inside quotes (no Caps, as I have
done with "Bang" in some places and need to change...)

# AudioStreaming
# DataflowTutorials

---give titles to screenshots so that readers can tell which patches
match which images (some do this, some don't...)
---"Math": examples/discussion of [expr]???
---"Order of connecting and [trigger]": explain the patches in-line,
rather than only in comments in screenshots (so that text is searchable,
copy/pasteable..)
---Screencaps are very aliased, to the point where you can't read
the ~ in the object names. Should they be redone at new resolution or
with antialiasing?


# Appendices
# PureGlossary

---format of object names = [italics in square brackets], must be
formatted correctly
---format of glossary words in general text: we don't have one yet. Bold
on first use in chapter maybe? Needs formatting all through text.

# ListofObjects

---incomplete, please add more libs
---maybe more discussion of externals needed as well
---formatting of object names?

# PureLinks

---always welcome

# Credits


----MORE CHAPTERS/SECTIONS TO DO-----

* Configuring "Path" and "Startup" + adding Externals VERY IMPORTANT!
* MIDI tutorial (keyboards, sliders, etc, input + output to/from devices
or other programs)
* HID sensor tutorial
* Patching strategies (advanced usage and examples of GoP, Abstractions
mostly)
* Audiofile manipulation (tables + Extended objects)
* Realtime effects tutorial (delays, filters, etc)
* GEM VJ tutorial (pix_film, pix_movie)
* Networked data (OSC, netsend/netreceive)


-- 
derek holzer ::: http://www.umatic.nl ::: http://blog.myspace.com/macumbista
---Oblique Strategy # 36:
"Consult other sources
-promising
-unpromising"




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