Shawn, Bravo! This is an excellent idea.You know, this is the sort of thing that makes jQuery stand out from the pack of other frameworks/ libraries. Getting started with any framework presents a significant hurdle, and most seem to think publishing an API is sufficient. APIs are necessary for reference, when you know the command and just need the syntax specifics. Great for advanced users, or even those transitioning from another framework. But they are confusing and overwhelming for beginners. Tutorials are a good first step, and there are a few for jQuery, but they could still use improvement. Books can cover the whole spectrum, but they make it hard to located specific tasks, grow out of date quickly and, frankly, many people just don't want to shell out the bucks and won't read them cover-to-cover. Howtos fit nicely between a tutorial and the API.
I can't count how many times I've seen comments on other frameworks' lists like "just read the API" or "you need to learn Javascript." Those are so discouraging and send the message that newbies aren't welcome. Telling people to "just read the API" is like expecting people trying to learn english to just read a dictionary. Howtos are perfect for people who know the basics (e.g. through a tutorial or book) but need to quickly find out how to perform a specific task. I think there are a lot of people who aren't building full-blown Ajax applications and aren't zealous OO fanboys. Many of us work primarily with server-side environments and just need small bits of client-side functionality here and there to finish out an application. That's exactly where a list of Howtos is perfect. So, again, I think you have a fantastic idea there. I really hope it takes off, and I, too, would love to see this added to the jQuery site. Don't worry about repeating information that may be available elsewhere. Just focus on keeping the tasks atomic and making it super fast and well organized to find what you you need at the moment. A sugggestion would be to add a Tips & Tricks section. Larry On Dec 21, 12:50 am, Shawn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > In a recent thread > (http://groups.google.com/group/jquery-en/browse_thread/thread/acfe180...) > the need for volunteer help with the documentation was discussed. I > posted a suggestion that maybe a "how-to" type of document may help > those who do not like the reference style of the official docs. I took > a look at adding to the wiki, but don't know the syntax/formatting > needed (yet). But I wanted to do something about this idea while it was > more or less fresh in my head. > > So, I slapped together a quick Drupal site under a sub-domain to my own > domain, and started typing. Actually, I had started typing first, but > quickly realized that an approach was needed to allow the community to > offer feedback and/or help out. So, a Drupal site sounded perfect for > this - for now at least. So, the site is at > > http://jquery.open2space.com > > I have some basic items in there right now, and am planning on extending > the how-to's as I have time. But I'm only one person and the areas I > think would be helpful may be only a small subset of what everyone else > thinks is helpful. So feel free to create an account and help out. > > The actual how-to's are athttp://jquery.open2space.com/howto. And if > you'd like to contribute, I have some quick instructions and guidelines > athttp://jquery.open2space.com/node/2. > > Logged in users can also blog about their jQuery experiences if they'd like. > > This is a bit of an experiment for me (the community driven site that > is). I'd like to see the community grow this idea, and even better - > make it so popular that it makes sense to roll back into the official > jQuery site. :) My thoughts right now is that this site become a jQuery > learning center, with links to pertinent books and blogs, and other > resources for learning jQuery. (Yep I have the Learning jQuery blog in > the feeds.. any others that should be there? :) > > Any suggestions on making the site better are much appreciated. And > thanks to everyone who helped me get as far in my own understanding of > jQuery! > > Shawn Grover On Dec 21, 12:50 am, Shawn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > In a recent thread > (http://groups.google.com/group/jquery-en/browse_thread/thread/acfe180...) > the need for volunteer help with the documentation was discussed. I > posted a suggestion that maybe a "how-to" type of document may help > those who do not like the reference style of the official docs. I took > a look at adding to the wiki, but don't know the syntax/formatting > needed (yet). But I wanted to do something about this idea while it was > more or less fresh in my head. > > So, I slapped together a quick Drupal site under a sub-domain to my own > domain, and started typing. Actually, I had started typing first, but > quickly realized that an approach was needed to allow the community to > offer feedback and/or help out. So, a Drupal site sounded perfect for > this - for now at least. So, the site is at > > http://jquery.open2space.com > > I have some basic items in there right now, and am planning on extending > the how-to's as I have time. But I'm only one person and the areas I > think would be helpful may be only a small subset of what everyone else > thinks is helpful. So feel free to create an account and help out. > > The actual how-to's are athttp://jquery.open2space.com/howto. And if > you'd like to contribute, I have some quick instructions and guidelines > athttp://jquery.open2space.com/node/2. > > Logged in users can also blog about their jQuery experiences if they'd like. > > This is a bit of an experiment for me (the community driven site that > is). I'd like to see the community grow this idea, and even better - > make it so popular that it makes sense to roll back into the official > jQuery site. :) My thoughts right now is that this site become a jQuery > learning center, with links to pertinent books and blogs, and other > resources for learning jQuery. (Yep I have the Learning jQuery blog in > the feeds.. any others that should be there? :) > > Any suggestions on making the site better are much appreciated. And > thanks to everyone who helped me get as far in my own understanding of > jQuery! > > Shawn Grover
