David,
I won't sledge-hammer the point about inadequacy of docs here. Users/engineers just have to see it
for themselves (that I'm wrong, or you're right) :). It's easy to get an overview. But beyond that?
Also, I've been meaning to ask why docs are in video format. I can't search video formats, can't
regexp them, can't annotate, etc. I guess my reverse-engineering ends where video formats start. I
think I tried coding facial recognition algos, but failed that course. Hmm.
Jonathon
David E. Jones wrote:
On Jan 18, 2007, at 4:38 AM, Jonathon -- Improov wrote:
Er, Ian. I forgot to mention this.
The docs for engineers aren't too comprehensive either. Try putting
your best Java developers into picking up OFBiz. Take the screen
widgets and form widgets for example. See how they fare. Like I said,
Java is more documented than OFBiz-specific technologies.
BUT.. but it's entirely possible to use Java only, plus
non-OFBiz-specific technologies like Freemarker for front-end
development convenience, and to skip Minilang and screen/form widgets
to a large extent. Non-OFBiz-specific technologies are generally
better documented since their developers focus develoment time solely
on those techs, like Freemarker (front-end tool) developers don't
delve into entity engines (backend tools).
As I was telling my boss, it's actually easier to hire Java
programmers than to hire Minilang or screen/form widget programmers.
So, beware of the implications. Say I code customizations for you in
Minilang and screen/form widgets, using almost or entirely zero Java.
Future tech support could be an really hairy issue for you.
BUT... at some point (I can't guarantee when), Minilang and
screen/form widget docs will be complete, audited to be comprehensive,
etc. You'll then probably find that programming in Minilang is more
cost-effective than in Java. (Either that, or I get paid by someone to
completely reverse-engineer and document all of Minilang and
screen/form widget in a reasonable timeframe --- say a month. Not an
impossible task, just a mountain of Java codes, is all).
Complete coverage of the framework already exists. Start at the link
below, and continue on to the advanced framework materials:
http://docs.ofbiz.org/x/PQM
-David
