[Python-Dev] Searching Python docs (Was: Python sidebar for Mozilla/Netscape) (original) (raw)

John Machin sjmachin@lexicon.net
Sat, 06 Apr 2002 10:14:00 +1000


[I asked:]

> Is it a FAQ why this kit is not in the Pythonlabs Win32 distribution > instead of the "bunch of HTML files" kit? I understand that > it's in the Activestate dist'n.

[Fred Drake]

It's generally not available when the Windows installer is built. Hernan is quick, but not that fast!

[Tim Peters] If Fred volunteers to produce .chm files in time for a release, I'll ship 'em. Don't hold your breath . our-support-for-the-windows-distro-is-bug-driven-ly y'rs - tim

Now read on ...

Tim's tag-line might explain it all to me if I could nut outexactly what he meant. However, blundering on in blissful ignorance of the logistics, legalities, real-politik, etc:

Premises: (1) .chm format is better for the windows distro than the .html format (2) [not sure why Tim used the plural "files"] One big .chm file is better than multiple smaller ones -- e.g. will find PyArg_BuildValue() without the punter needing to know whether it's in the the E&E manual or in the C API manual :-) (3) A script can be developed [Hernan presumably has at least the foundation for this] to create the .chm file from the .html files so that producing the .chm file at release time requires neither volunteer nor conscript intervention ...

And some afterthoughts on Tim's tagline, which in my ignorance I interpreted as indicative of a somewhat reactive attitude to the win32 distro [I'd be utterly delighted to be corrected if I'm wrong]:

(1) Judging from the traffic on c.l.py, Python seems to have reached the point in a language's life cycle where it is attracting many novice users. My guess is that most of those will be using the win32 distribution. Many of them will no doubt refuse to RTFM, but for those who will, providing them with the docs in .chm format (and actively promoting it) might cut down on the "support cost" of the traffic on c.l.py.

(2) In two application development shops with which I am engaged, the main application runs on a large Unix box, but the developers' and DBAs' workstations are Windows (2000) PCs -- is this atypical? I am evangelising Python to them -- while certainly not critical, better doc formats, positive attitude to win32 distro, etc etc wouldn't hurt.

Regards, John