Take video, for example. It always comes up. Work has, and continues to be done, to get things simpler, better, faster for the new user, but it's not anywhere enough. (might not ever be really)
So then, maybe toss out, "Graphics_Demo.spin Workshop thread"
On that thread, it's all about that particular video tool. That's the focus. New Propeller users can ask anything, and some of the experienced people, or those who just enjoy that niche can spend a week making sure that thread sees some attention.
The product of a series of those, would probably serve as the basis for a very potent book / library package that is Arduino like, in that it could be used for introductory classes, and or serve as a great getting started reference.
I may well do one of these in the near future, once I get my head out of PASM and PAL. (right now, that's where my little bits of spare time have gone)
Some topics could be:
Hooking LED's up. Using one Prop to talk to another Prop. The SD card. (this one should be on a recurring schedule). Running Games. Programming with BST. Clock Speeds.
You get the idea.
Somebody lurking will see one of those, know that's exactly the place to ask even the most basic of things, have a good experience, and they are off and running, maybe ready to jump into the next one, and off we all go!
One other thing to keep in mind is that you may one day want to sell your own Propeller hardware or software and, take it from me, forum members will be your #1 customers.
One advantage that we have now that we have not had before is a good search engine. In many cases, it seams that new members ask questions that have been discussed before. Being able to quickly find and reference an existing thread will help the new member while reducing the frustration on established members of restating the same answer over and over again. We only have to be sure we refrain from just pointing to the search box and saying something "Have you tried to look for the answer"
I've seen a trend in this particular forum where Spin has been characterized as slow. I find this trend disturbing because the utility value of the Spin language is being ignored. Unfortunately it's natural for users to want more horsepower and speed (despite impressive chip specs).
As a result, too many novice members have adopted this point of view, and seem to think Spin is a waste of time to learn. Yet, they have no idea of how capable Spin is, and how flexible it is, and they have little experience with the Propeller Chip. So they are asking questions about doing simple tasks with alternative languages that may execute faster, but are less supported, and more difficult to get started with.
While there is no way to keep them from reading more advanced topics, a forum dealing with novice Spin questions along with the type of support that Jon and Terry provided in the SX forums (providing simple program examples), would be a step in the right direction.
When I first looked at the Prop. I was scared to death in trying it...I was having quite a time learning PBasic. I have no clue on ASM at all...don't know if I ever will. But, once I got started with my PE kit that I bought and set aside for a few months, I found that I really liked the Spin language and quickly found that I liked it more than PBasic!
I encourage any novice to try the Propeller, I love it!
Perhaps a Novice Forum could include in its title "Propeller Circuit Help", in the effort to complete the circle of the "Basic Stamp Experience". Everybody has copied your business model, take the next step to support users like me who enjoy your product, but find simple circuits related to Stamps a mystery and an obstacle.
I know there are books out there to teach this, and I have tons of books that I plan on reading someday. But for what-ever reason I find reading and comprehending or retention of their information is difficult. But I love technical subjects despite this handicap. I'm a "hands-on" kinda guy, (that's what makes me happy). I learn the best when I get fixated on a project or job, and I learn by doing, or in a structured setting, like school where I have deadlines to meet. Except in schools they have tests, and at 50 yrs old, and back in college, I am finding I have the same problems with test as I did from K - 12.
When I was younger I rejected the idea that there was anything different, compared to my friends. Now that I am older, it doesn't bother me anymore, because I know that I am one of a large group of people that are drawn to technical fields like this, and that there are many others like me with ADD and Specific Learning disabilities.
For me the Basic Stamp experience fulfills technical my needs. But I find magazine articles boring. Many articles are just rehashing the same old stuff over and over. Or I have no interest in the subject being discussed. Finding good magazine articles are kinda like winning the lottery.
On the other-hand, these forums are always changing (the chance of finding something I enjoy is greater), and that draws me back over and over again.
In my opinion, these forums are what works the best for today's Parallax customers. Expanding the forum to include an area where Opinionators like me are not welcome, and our experts constantly provide small code examples (even if the code examples come directly out of the OBEX), and basic circuit assistance. Stickies that deal with how to best to format and present questions to our experts would be helpful. And a Sticky that just records code examples that have been covered in the past as a quick reference guide.
I know that's what this forum was intended to do, but the popularity of the Propeller has morphed it into something else.
The reason a new forum title will help; is because a new title would be specific, it would provide a clear path for new and old members like me enter the forum, to find and ask novice Propeller and Circuit related questions only, and without any unintended intimidation.
I like the idea of an advanced project SUB-forum
(for things like LMM, XMM, and emulations.)
Those threads are REALLY advanced.
As long as the forum-admin does not create a welcome novices sticky-thread
I'll try to keep a normal thread more or less "sticky" by bumping it from time to time
Perhaps we could optionally flag a thread as "Advanced", then each user has an option to hide Advanced threads. Everybody would see non-flagged threads. This way you don't need another forum.
Comments
Take video, for example. It always comes up. Work has, and continues to be done, to get things simpler, better, faster for the new user, but it's not anywhere enough. (might not ever be really)
So then, maybe toss out, "Graphics_Demo.spin Workshop thread"
On that thread, it's all about that particular video tool. That's the focus. New Propeller users can ask anything, and some of the experienced people, or those who just enjoy that niche can spend a week making sure that thread sees some attention.
The product of a series of those, would probably serve as the basis for a very potent book / library package that is Arduino like, in that it could be used for introductory classes, and or serve as a great getting started reference.
I may well do one of these in the near future, once I get my head out of PASM and PAL. (right now, that's where my little bits of spare time have gone)
Some topics could be:
Hooking LED's up. Using one Prop to talk to another Prop. The SD card. (this one should be on a recurring schedule). Running Games. Programming with BST. Clock Speeds.
You get the idea.
Somebody lurking will see one of those, know that's exactly the place to ask even the most basic of things, have a good experience, and they are off and running, maybe ready to jump into the next one, and off we all go!
I've seen a trend in this particular forum where Spin has been characterized as slow. I find this trend disturbing because the utility value of the Spin language is being ignored. Unfortunately it's natural for users to want more horsepower and speed (despite impressive chip specs).
As a result, too many novice members have adopted this point of view, and seem to think Spin is a waste of time to learn. Yet, they have no idea of how capable Spin is, and how flexible it is, and they have little experience with the Propeller Chip. So they are asking questions about doing simple tasks with alternative languages that may execute faster, but are less supported, and more difficult to get started with.
While there is no way to keep them from reading more advanced topics, a forum dealing with novice Spin questions along with the type of support that Jon and Terry provided in the SX forums (providing simple program examples), would be a step in the right direction.
Bill M.
I encourage any novice to try the Propeller, I love it!
I know there are books out there to teach this, and I have tons of books that I plan on reading someday. But for what-ever reason I find reading and comprehending or retention of their information is difficult. But I love technical subjects despite this handicap. I'm a "hands-on" kinda guy, (that's what makes me happy). I learn the best when I get fixated on a project or job, and I learn by doing, or in a structured setting, like school where I have deadlines to meet. Except in schools they have tests, and at 50 yrs old, and back in college, I am finding I have the same problems with test as I did from K - 12.
When I was younger I rejected the idea that there was anything different, compared to my friends. Now that I am older, it doesn't bother me anymore, because I know that I am one of a large group of people that are drawn to technical fields like this, and that there are many others like me with ADD and Specific Learning disabilities.
For me the Basic Stamp experience fulfills technical my needs. But I find magazine articles boring. Many articles are just rehashing the same old stuff over and over. Or I have no interest in the subject being discussed. Finding good magazine articles are kinda like winning the lottery.
On the other-hand, these forums are always changing (the chance of finding something I enjoy is greater), and that draws me back over and over again.
In my opinion, these forums are what works the best for today's Parallax customers. Expanding the forum to include an area where Opinionators like me are not welcome, and our experts constantly provide small code examples (even if the code examples come directly out of the OBEX), and basic circuit assistance. Stickies that deal with how to best to format and present questions to our experts would be helpful. And a Sticky that just records code examples that have been covered in the past as a quick reference guide.
I know that's what this forum was intended to do, but the popularity of the Propeller has morphed it into something else.
The reason a new forum title will help; is because a new title would be specific, it would provide a clear path for new and old members like me enter the forum, to find and ask novice Propeller and Circuit related questions only, and without any unintended intimidation.
(for things like LMM, XMM, and emulations.)
Those threads are REALLY advanced.
As long as the forum-admin does not create a welcome novices sticky-thread
I'll try to keep a normal thread more or less "sticky" by bumping it from time to time
best regards
Stefan
Jonathan