Tutorial page web/wiki

[Handoko]

~off topic~

@Martin_fr

May I suggest a section for short demos? I saw people often wrote demos for answering question in the forum. Some of them are short but interesting, should be shown to the public. I think they will be attractive for newbies.

For examples:

Move shape with mouse by mousemove by furious programming:
http://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,43376.msg303582.html#msg303582

Drawing, moving and make connection between shapes by Handoko:
http://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,41036.msg284131.html#msg284131

A simple pong game by Handoko:
http://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,42439.msg297949.html#msg297949

There are lots of them, but I forget where they are.

[Martin_fr]

I haven't checked if we already have something or not.

But to start with, maybe a tutorial page overview on the wiki? Maybe even as a portal https://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Category:Portals ?
Then create individual wiki pages for each of them, or link to the forum.

The page could be linked from the home page, in the "Education" section.

This is already linked on top of the home page https://wiki.freepascal.org/Lazarus_Documentation#Lazarus_and_Pascal_Tutorials
Could be somehow integrated and the link adjusted.....

[Handoko]

I meant to put them on the Lazarus website. I think newbies / new comers are not likely to visit the wiki.

[Martin_fr]

I meant to put them on the Lazarus website. I think newbies / new comers are not likely to visit the wiki.

It wouldn't be a problem to add a page, if someone creates and maintains it.
But the latter is kind of the issue => it needs maintenance. Even with a volunteer, there would then be only one person to integrate the updates. (And people would need a way to reach that person)

Currently we have the "online tutorials" link on the website. (It's in the top section, no scrolling needed). That should be easy to find.

The problem is => the wiki page to which it points needs a maintainer.
If it gets reworked, and made to look like the portal pages then new users would probably use it.

Look at https://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Portal:Windows => that page invites to stay.

As for doing more on the website....

If someone does the work, we can add one new page "Help",  "First steps" or "Docs and info" or ......

But I do not think this page should actually hold the content (i.e. list of tutorials) => that changes. And people who want to add new tutorials should be able to do that and add them.

So what could be on the page is like a directory of help pages. Link to the online help and what to expect from the help, link to one or more wiki portals, and what to expect to find there.

I suggest various groups of links into the wiki (mainly to portal pages)
install/setup
first step creating and apps / tutorials
OS specifics
....

If we put all those links on one (sub-) page, rather than having them strewn all over the main page, that might indeed be helpful.

What do you think?

[Martin_fr]

This topic was split out of https://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,48260.0.html

[trev]

But to start with, maybe a tutorial page overview on the wiki? Maybe even as a portal https://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Category:Portals ?

Portals are fantastic concepts which thematically gather together all the scattered and otherwise difficult to find Wiki pages. Unfortunately the Portal pages suffer a similar fate of being scattered and difficult to find.

Can we please add the Portal page galleries which serbod prototyped at https://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/SANDBOX to the Main Page? At the moment none of these can be found from the home page.

If noone else takes it up in the near future, I'll also look at creating a Tutorials portal which is not a small undertaking - there are already a lot of tutorials in the Wiki, from programming AVR microcontrollers to adding an Apple Help book to an application. See: https://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Category:Tutorials

[Martin_fr]

Regarding the image portal links for the main page:
I sent out a mail to the other team members. Just to make sure there is nothing about the main page that I am unaware of.

If there is not, I will take care of it in a bit.

[GAN]

A section with examples or "how to" would be interesting. I agree with @handoko, there are very good demos attached in the forum messages.

[vladimirr]

May I suggest a section for short demos? I saw people often wrote demos for answering question in the forum. Some of them are short but interesting, should be shown to the public. I think they will be attractive for newbies.

Good idea! It will be useful to have a collection of good quality demo applications!

[Martin_fr]

Just to mention, on top of the tutorial links in previous posts of this thread, we also have
https://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Projects_using_Lazarus
https://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Lazarus_Application_Gallery

[vladimirr]

Just to mention, on top of the tutorial links in previous posts of this thread, we also have
https://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Projects_using_Lazarus
https://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Lazarus_Application_Gallery

By the way, how I can add my application to these lists?

[Martin_fr]

By the way, how I can add my application to these lists?

Top right of the wiki page: register.
Once registered you can edit (most) pages.

[dbannon]

Too right !  I really like the idea of a wiki page listing pointers to smaller tips and trick, demos etc in the forum. 

Maybe its a good idea if when someone adds the forum link to the wiki page, they also post a message to the forum thread saying "I just added this to XXX wiki page". That way, people, especially ones looking for those little demos, will be aware of the wiki page.

Davo

[dbannon]

Right, while this is definitely Handoko's idea, just about every one agrees its a good one.  I'm going to give it a bump !

Handoko wanted it on the main website rather than the wiki. I suggest a link from the main website to a a wiki page is easiest solution. Below is my first cut at some usage guidelines.  I think this is what people have in mind. Unless someone objects, I will create a wiki page along these lines and we can do any necessary development there rather than a long conversation here on the forum.

Table of Contents
.........
.........

Guidelines
* This page contains a number of tips, tricks and techniques relating to coding FPC/Lazarus projects. Its a wiki page and that means everyone is entitled, indeed, encouraged, to contribute.

* If you see something relevant in the forum or elsewhere (always observing copyright and license) please add it to this page.
   
* Content that relates to one particular component is better added to that component's own wiki page.  If its more than just how to use the component, please link it under "Components".  Conversely, content that applies to multiple components belongs here with links from the relevant components.

* This page is about small snippets rather than large works, if what you need to add is longer than 20 or so lines, maybe its a new page page in its own right.

* Please add only things you know are correct, testing yourself is a great idea.

* Remember that this page is particularly targeted at new users but thats no reason to leave out advanced topics. 

* Please try and keep within the heading structure but don't be afraid to add a new heading if its necessary.

* Don't duplicate wiki content, a few well chosen words and a link may be all thats needed. And a link to a forum thread may well also be appropriate.

* When adding content, say from a FPC/Lazarus forum, post a note on that forum thread saying what you have done.

* There is a separate page for IDE Tips and Trick (link)


Drawing and Graphics


Database


Basic Programming


.......
 

[minesadorada]

Some good stuff in Category "Code Snippets".  I sometimes post forum snippets there.

https://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Category:Code_Snippets