Books on RunRev

[Jim Hurley]

I hesitate to enter this discussion. I have so little feel for the market.

However, on a personal level, I think a good book on RunRev is the 
best thing that could happen right now. Certainly the product is 
sufficiently mature that it is truly ready for prime time. It has 
gone far beyond HyperCard in speed of execution, breadth of coverage 
and variety of platforms.

I first became interested in xTalk programming through HC. And I 
doubt that would have happened had it not been for the 
Winkler-Kamins-DeVoto book. I thought it was just brilliant. A 
perfect blend of theory (about a hundred pages) and extensive 
examples. I agree fully with Richard that the best teacher is 
experience. But a good example is experience on-a-stick.

I taught Physics for 30 years, and although I had a passion for the 
theory, I always knew, deep down, that the only way to get through to 
students was through meaningful examples and penetrating homework.

(By the way, my real interest in HC then, and RR now, is in 
education. I think the time will come when programming is taught 
routinely in High School and x-Talk is the ideal vehicle for the High 
School student. There is certainly a book needed there. It would be 
aimed at students interested in science--there are a dozen students 
who pursue a science career for every one that becomes an application 
programmer.  Programming is mostly about algorithms-schemes-and less 
about implementation and so the language chosen for the beginning 
programmer is the one which facilitates though and not one which is 
CPU friendly. But it is very difficult to break through the inertia 
of the entrenched High School curriculum. Trouble is, the teacher who 
might initiate a HS course would be one with a background in 
programming and not in the sciences. As you see I have a real bias 
here. My apologies; I suspect that the majority on this list has 
quite a different bent.)

Right now, this list fills the book void, and it does so brilliantly. 
But there are many questions that users don't know to ask (I'm sure I 
have no idea what RR is truly capable of) or are too embarrassed, 
despite the grace with which newbie question are handled..

I think RR is more than half-way there with its excellent 
documentation. Add a little theory (100 pages), and follow with the 
existing dictionary but *add useful example scripts* to the 
definitions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

True, it would couldn't cover everything and it would soon become 
outdated. But an on-line addendum could help to solve these problems.

I cannot begin to imagine the effort and imagination that has created 
this product, beginning with the concept in HC, on to the expansion 
with MC, now the polish of RR. RR is ready for prime time.  And 
"RunRev 2.0, The Book" would make that announcement.

Jim
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