Rant Re Rev Documentation

[Todd Geist]

It was me who made this statement at RevCon so let me elaborate and chime in
On 7/25/05 12:30 AM, "Chipp Walters" <chipp at chipp.com> wrote:

> I believe someone at the RevCon West conference stood up and said what
> was really needed was a sort of 'application framework guide.' A
> book/website/wiki/whatever which explained step-by-step how to go about
> building basic programs. I agree. on what others have said...

Like many others here have pointed out there are two potential markets for
Rev to grow into.  The inventive user and the professional developer.  Very
Very Very different markets. I make my living as a FileMaker developer so I
understand this schism well and I for one would rather see more "pros"
climbing on board.  They add more skill to to the community and they don't
drive down prices and they don't give the tool a bad name in IT departments.

I know that may offend some people out there.  I am sorry, but realize that
this actually occurs. A lot of IT guys blame the tool not the guy who used
it incorrectly.  I for one have lost work because of it.

Anyway I was pushing for more help for the pro who is looking at Rev.  The
pro knows that completing a successful project is as much about deployment,
support, version control and upgrades as it is about whatever task the tool
is being built for.  A pro also knows that almost every application must do
a few things like deal with user preferences and data storage etc.

Too me this "application architecture" or  "application framework" is as
important to me as the little technical bits that are covered in the docs,
maybe more so.  Because once I get this I can set about building whatever it
is I need to build, learning all the little pieces as I go.When I am done
hopefully I will have something resembling an application that can be
maintained extended and supported.  NOT a cobbled together plate of
spaghetti code that is close to imploding under it's own in efficiencies.

This Application Architecture is what I had a hard time digging up when I
started looking at Rev. It was clearly a powerful tool but I didn't the
first thing about producing something of value with it.  I had to go RevCon
to begin to figure this out.  It was well worth it but I don't live that far
a way so I could drive.

I think a half dozen examples representing the most common Commercial
Applications Models (apps that are bringing in the most money for the most
people) would go along way towards bring in new professional talent into the
Revolution.

Then I could say, "OK I need to build a multi-user database app So let me
start with the "multi-user database example and go from there". Or "my
client needs an internet app with a rich interface, so let me start with the
internet app example"

You want to see any product take off, teach people how they can make, ACTUAL
REAL CASH using it!

Goodnight all. Thanks for listening!

Todd

-- 

Todd Geist