Fresh Start to an SP Tutorial

jgb

(Transfered from "How can we help out?" topic in
"http://groups.google.com/group/sketchyphysics/"
on Chris Phillips recommendation.) jgb

There have been several attempts at properly documenting SP. So far
the incomplete but best effort is by Curbs. I tried, but Curbs
outclassed me by a long shot, so we sorta joined forces, till I had to
abandon my efforts due to other commitments, and my inability to wrap
my head around some fundamentals of SP. (That's about me, not SP.)

So, what I'm saying here is, don't underestimate the complexity of
documenting SP. It is a great program with great possibilities, but
it IS complex. I would suggest setting up a specific SP tutorial
forum strictly for collaboration, continuity, and division of labor.
One person cannot do it all, unless it is a full time endeavor and that
person knows SP inside out. Chris can only help so much, as coding is
his forte, not tech writing, by his own admission. That is fair, as
some are great coders, and some are great tech writers, and it is very
rare both are one person.

I can help as well. My main experienced strength is project
planning. If a bunch of you that want to participate in a thorough
tutorial covering all that SP can do, then let's meet here and decide
on a format (See Curbs tutorial as a prime guide) and define the
various SP tools and processes at play, then divvy up the work.

This is NOT a trivial task, and it will take weeks if not a few months
of committed coordinated work and testing/proof reading.

It also means using a single forum as the Tutorial meeting room, and
not opening new threads to ask Chris a question. We all need to be
"on the same page" so to speak. And I think Chris should be coding
not dancing between forums on this matter.

Also, as has happened before, this will not be an ad-hoc forum where
non-tutorial questions are answered. They tend to hi-jack a forum
once people see all the "experts" congregating.

So let those that are interested reply here, and we will see where it
goes.

jgb

Wacov

Don't see why no-one else has replied I'd be happy to help, I've got good general knowledge of SP and I know some workarounds for problems; I don't have a huge amount of spare time but this is something I'm interested in; Smaller mini-tutorials for more specific/advanced stuff is what I'd like to do.

shareck

ok. i've seen models on the warehouse that have a motor with reverse function controlled by a single controller. |Still i cant figure out how to make such a motor. Please. Prepare a tutorial for me

jgb

@shareck said:

ok. i've seen models on the warehouse that have a motor with reverse function controlled by a single controller. |Still i cant figure out how to make such a motor. Please. Prepare a tutorial for me

Best to repost this as its' own topic. The how-to you get will form part of a tutorial, if it ever gets going.

jgb

@wacov said:

Don't see why no-one else has replied I'd be happy to help, I've got good general knowledge of SP and I know some workarounds for problems; I don't have a huge amount of spare time but this is something I'm interested in; Smaller mini-tutorials for more specific/advanced stuff is what I'd like to do.

My guess is that nobody really wants to devote the effort. Like I said, it is not a trivial task.
As for advanced stuff mini's, we need to document the fundementals first. Take Curbs work and flesh out some more details on the basic joints and settings. Then carry on where he left off with the remaining joints. At that point we can get into advanced stuff like linking different types of joints and how-to's on some of the fancy stuff we've all seen, but can't figure out how to do.

Wacov

Ok... where would I post the finished tutorial?

BTM

I'd gladly help, but I have a mac, and barely ever get time to use SP. When SP3 comes out for mac, I could help though.

sJazz

Hello All,

Among other things, I'm a professional content developer and it is my primary responsibility at my day job to build tutorials and other educational material. I'm willing to donate a bunch of hours to get a meaningful tutorial put together provided that I can set up some phone conversations/web meetings (I have the tools) to discuss.

Let me know how the "owners" would like to proceed...