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

Tue May 6 22:34:34 CEST 2008

Derek,

Thanks so much for putting this together!...I've definitely been using
it and will try to post helpful feedback soon...glad to see this is on
the list of todo's:

* Configuring "Path" and "Startup" + adding Externals VERY IMPORTANT!

I just made a switch to OSX from windows...not sure if it is related,
but I finally feel like I am making sense of the objects.  Maybe just
more comfortable spending time on this new machine.  I am finding that
learning is coming from lots of different sources...I've also gained
alot from the help files in the doc folder particularly the ones
written by hcs...but your floss, really helped get things rolling!

Toby Sinkinson

On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 1:54 PM, Derek Holzer <derek at umatic.nl> wrote:
> 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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