Firstly, you use the word 'tool' when referring to visual components, I'm not sure thats a good idea. Possibility of confusing your 'tool' with the ones provided as part of FPC/Lazarus. People tend to think of tools as something you use here to help make the software rather than actually part of the software.
I was also thinking about it. I think it is ok in the case of the toolbar, but not so much when they are dropped to form. I think I need to find out a new word for this. But this is also true that sometimes teachers find some temporary words to make the students comfortable. This is so that they don't get lost in the new words and jurgons and start thinking its hard and give up. Maybe it is something like that.
But I will think about changing it for sure, if I find any replacement.
Secondly, installing. I think it would be a good idea to point people to the newly released install kits that ship 1.8. The Linux package maintainers can be quite slow in pushing out new versions, especially for people on long term release OS.
I think that's great. I don't run Ubuntu for many days. But the last time I checked in a LTS, it was already to 1.4 or something. (I don't remember correctly though.) 1.4 would be ok to newcomers to try the basic things, but 1.0.6 or 9.x.x versions would be a problem to follow. Especially the compile sections in settings are different.
I think if the Wiki addresses this issue in some separate section of the Ubuntu page (wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Install_on_Ubuntu), it would be much better. Then I can shortly refer to that section if someone has the older version.
Another thing you probably have not come across is how hard Mac makes things for non Mac developers. So someone attracted to Lazarus's cross platform nature may find themselves looking at a Mac for the first time. On Mac's, to use the app outside of the IDE you need to make an "application Bundle" (press the button in Project Options) and then run (from memory) ~/MyApp.app/Contents/Mac/MyApp and to move the app elsewhere you need to delete the symlink down in that location and replace it with the actual binary.
I'll try and document this process and how to make a distributed dmg file on the wiki when I get some free time. This script does it (but I don't think it would be a good idea to link directly to it) - https://github.com/tomboy-notes/tomboy-ng/blob/master/package/mk_dmg.bash Perhaps all you need do in your book is mention that Mac's need that application bundle to be made and refer people to wiki ?
I don't have a Mac in my hand and I am not that accustomed to it. I see the wiki is loaded with text (
http://wiki.freepascal.org/Installing_Lazarus_on_MacOS_X) and would not be helpful to newcomers. It would be great if you or someone else can provide me some instructions for Mac (preferably short and understandable) then I can include it in the next edition. Or better also, if the Wiki has this short instruction and just link from the book.
Thanks for the good points.