Path: chuka.playstation.co.uk!scea!pro1-145.barrie.connex.net!user
From: skennedy@bconnex.net (Sean Kennedy)
Newsgroups: scea.yaroze.announce,scea.yaroze.beginners,scea.yaroze.freetalk,scee.yaroze.freetalk.english
Subject: Re: Darco's Newbie Tutorials
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1998 23:36:16 -0500
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Darco Wrote:
> I'll be writing a newbie tutorial (A tutorial for newbies) so that
> newbies like Chris Ramirez and Tranvir Khan can learn faster. I'm
> modeling it after the type of tutorial that I learn best from.
> 
> The tutorial will be in HTML format, will be fully illistrated(Screen
> shots, flow charts, etc.), and of course will include example code.
> Heck, I might even run spell check on it. ;)
> 
> Nearly every PlayStation term will be hyper linked to it's definition in
> the glossary so if you don't understand a word you there's no excuse not
> to look it up. Just click on it.
> 
> I'll start work on it this weekend. Here is a list of what's going to be
> on it when I'm finished. There's probably going to be allot more on
> there. If you can think of anything else that needs to be in there, just
> tell me.
> 
> Now, Eventually I'll have this organized into a very orderly outline
> that you will see from the title screen. But for now it's just a jumble:
> 
> 1) Hardware diagrams and explanations
> 2) The PlayStation address space (An explanation of)
> 3) Memory Management
> 4) A Glossary
> 5) Using GCC effectively
> 6) Using CodeWarrior effectively
> 7) How to use MAKE
> 8) Ordering tables
> 9) Logical code layout (Tips for making readable and modular code)
> 10) Your first yaroze program
> 11) An explanation of VRAM
> 12) Working with VRAM
> 
> Blah blah blah... There allot more than I can think of but i have to be
> at school in 15 minutes.
> 
> The reason I'm writing this is because I don't think that there are any
> tutorials out there that really teach something. No offense to George
> Bain or anyone, I've used those tutorials and learned allot from them. 
> But just giving a newbie code isn't going to make them learn anything.
> Without an explanation, they'll just cut and paste code and then ask why
> it doesn't work. This tutorial will have more explanation than code. 
> 
> Perhaps I should give all the example code in pascal to force them to
> re-write it themselves. :) That is the best way I've seen to learn
> something; to re-write it.
> 
> I'm not going to do that though, that's too mean to those who don't have
> a sure footing in C.
> 
> But anyway, any input would be greatly appreciated. 
> 
> 'Darco

Hey, Here is great opportunity for a Prime time Freeware type publication.
These things are time consuming efforts if they get that way, {MkLInux
took Three Years.} but don't sweat the small stuff.

Look at it from the perspective of doing little bits at a time.
Kind of like doing assembler.

#1:Start small, but have a plan.
#2:Then Expand on content in #1.
#3:Add features.
#4:Return to #1 for the next phase of the project.

Very successful way of doing this.

Email me at kennedy@moe.acad.humberc.on.ca  I'd like to try this.

-sean