From: Dave Thomas <Dave@...>
Date: 2000-02-10T12:43:22-06:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:01300] Announcing a new Ruby book


I'm pleased to be able to announce that Addison Wesley has signed Andy
Hunt and myself to write a book about Ruby. We're currently about
one-third the way through, and hope to have a finished manuscript by
the end of April, with the book appearing on the shelves by sometime
in the summer.

The approach we're taking is different to matz's book--we're producing
something more like (say) 'Essential Python': a tutorial section and
an annotated reference to the libraries.  We're aiming for 300-400
pages, so it should be a fairly easy read. We're hoping to post
significant extracts to the web as they get finished.

Addison Wesley is also looking to contribute resources that will help
support Ruby in the US and Europe. In particular, they're hoping to work 
towards having US-based mirrors of the Ruby archives, and to be able
to offer a US based site dedicated to the Ruby language.

Reviewers needed
================

We're currently finishing off the first draft of the reference section
that documents the standard classes and modules (String, Kernel and
the like), and we're hoping to recruit some of you as technical
reviewers. If you want to take it on, send an e-mail to Julie
DeBaggis, our editorial wonderwoman, at julie.debaggis@awl.com. She'll
do all the coordinating, getting the content to you, either
electronically as a Postscript file or by mail. You then get to tear
it apart. Particular in this phase, we're looking for detailed
technical criticism--did we get it right, and did we cover it all.

In exchange for all your efforts, I think you'll receive a small
honorarium (probably below the minimum wage if your amortize it over
the time you'll spend), and we'd love to recognize your work in the
acknowledgments section of the final book. Perhaps more importantly,
you'll be able to contribute to helping us produce an accurate and
useful Ruby book, something we feel is essential if we're to get Ruby
the acceptance it deserves in the US and Europe.

Tell us what you think!


Regards


Dave Thomas & Andy Hunt