updating the "official" documentation

[Gary]

The community is rushing to help update the App Inventor documentation. We will take the "official" documentation and add missing info, update what has changed and include more info. We will end up with a version of the documentation that is based on the "official" documentation that can be reviewed and added back to the "official" version.

That plan brings up several issues. Issues like where can we collaborate, how can we do it so it is easy to add back to the source and other issues like how do we make sure we are adding good info.

I would like the updates to fit into the source as easily as can be. That requires Google/MIT getting with us.

  sooner rather than later...

I set up a site to get started https://groups.google.com/d/msg/theairepository/Hxo4bgyRGDA/LGdqli8iFHAJ

I had tested previously and it went well, this time... not so good.

The "official" site I used is here http://www.appinventorbeta.com/learn/

I took a few pages and put them in my test site https://sites.google.com/a/jsoft.com/aibetadocs/

I will be looking at the troubleshooting pages, adding back much of the info on the tAIR site we gathered about troubleshooting.

Who wants to review?

What else needs to be done???

Gary

[Gary]

On Tuesday, August 30, 2011 6:46:03 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:

...

What else needs to be done???

Changing all the urls to http://www.appinventorbeta.com/ :-)

I am going to review the troubleshooting page and it's sub page. I worked with Hal on more getting set up and connecting documentation and I want to merge that with the troubleshooting page here and the existing 'official' troubleshooting pages. We will end up with better documentation and be ready when the 'official' url changes in a few months.

Great fun, anyone want to help make App Inventor better?

Gary 

[Gary]

Well, I am able to keep up with the horde of folks saying they are going to help update the documentation

  (-;

We are trying to grow the App Inventor forums. One way is when someone asks a question that has been asked and answered over and over, point them at a faq. Here is Hal doing that and doing it well.

  https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/programming-with-app-inventor/Y2YN-hmNq64/wwcWCZHDuucJ

We all need to be familiar with the existing faqs and help others with them.

and we need more faqs and tutorials and info and stuff

  lots of stuff!!!

https://groups.google.com/d/topic/appinventor/ZxZqhLTw0cE/discussion

Hossein was right on. The 'official' docs answer the question

  http://www.appinventorbeta.com/learn/reference/components/basic.html#TinyDB

sorta. Hossein clarified what happens with TinyDB when updating the app in the Market.

and

We need a TinyDB faq or pointers to tutorials or some better documentation.

Things such as Hossein's answer.

Is anyone using TinyDB interested in making the community documentation better?

Gary

rather than my sometimes under appreciated pointer to a YouTube video, let me put this here

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Abelson

Thanks Hal!