p.s. I didn't mean to suggest that only the people listed below have been helpful to IMP, and I bet if I add Dave, Ben, Javi, Max, Keren and Charles to the list of past and present contributors, I am still missing out on many people, I apologies in advance to anyone left out!!! All I meant to say is that it's greaaaat many people think the documentation effort is important, and that we're doing something about it, so please come and join!!!
Barak
On Mon, Aug 6, 2012 at 12:40 PM, Barak Raveh barak.raveh@gmail.com wrote:
> 1) Daniel, I think it is a nice idea to add these autolinks > 2) I am also really happy about the renewed interest in documentation. A > bunch of us (Daniel, Riccardo, Dina, myself) have already started. If you > want to help, let us know. We need all the help we can get. > B > > > On Mon, Aug 6, 2012 at 12:31 PM, Daniel Russel drussel@gmail.com wrote: > >> In terms of specific doc additions, do people think it would be useful to >> have: >> - links from each class to all examples that use the class (or, rather, >> use the name of the class) >> - links from each class to all functions that take or return the function >> >> I had an implementation of the former, but it was a bit of a hack and >> broke. >> >> >> >> On Mon, Aug 6, 2012 at 12:26 PM, Daniel Russel drussel@gmail.com wrote: >> >>> Cool to see all this interest in improving the docs, let's make sure it >>> doesn't peter out :-) One useful direction to move would be to add more >>> standards for documentation (to the developer guide) and then switch to a >>> commit model as outlined in the previous link so there is someone to poke >>> people to get them to do the work before it gets forgotten about. >>> >>> On a related note, I find that when using other libraries (boost, CGAL, >>> bullet being some recent example) when I have a question I tend to google >>> for the answer (as opposed to looking through the docs directly). Useful >>> hits often include the library docs, but more often than not other sources >>> such as the support email lists and q&a sites such as stackoverflow >>> (probably the single most useful site with popular libraries). As a result, >>> I would highly encourage people to email the imp-users list with questions, >>> rather than email or ask Ben or I, so that the question and answer get >>> indexed for other people to see. >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Aug 6, 2012 at 11:45 AM, Dave Barkan dbarkan@salilab.orgwrote: >>> >>>> ** >>>> >>>> Here's my proposal: Every function documentation must have these >>>> entries: >>>> >>>> *Short Description:* (appears in the search page) >>>> *Detailed Description:* >>>> [*Algorithm Description:* in some cases] >>>> *Usage:* >>>> *Simple Example: >>>> * >>>> >>>> I agree 100% with this suggestion by Riccardo. Also, that was a great >>>> example that he used about how the existing documentation doesn't help in >>>> many cases. >>>> >>>> Here is the thing: as it stands now, it is fine for the lab and close >>>> friends to use IMP, because we can walk over to Daniel or Ben when we have >>>> a problem and quickly get it answered (thanks guys!). But the goal for IMP >>>> is to get it distributed globally. If a lab that doesn't have any >>>> connection to ours wants to use it, currently nothing but the most simple >>>> functionality will be usable due to the lack of documentation. So really >>>> the overall impact of the software is reduced. >>>> >>>> A point of comparison is Modeller. Modeller is used by many labs >>>> without having to email us for tech support. That's because if you go to >>>> the Modeller website, it not only has a great tutorial, but also massive >>>> class and method documentation. Most questions can be answered by using >>>> that documentation as a reference, and I would argue that the documentation >>>> more than almost anything else is responsible for Modeller's widespread use. >>>> >>>> The problem is that people don't want to document their code because >>>> once you get something working, you either feel great about it and want to >>>> apply it to something right away instead of writing how it works, or you're >>>> so sick of it that you don't want to go through each method and document >>>> it, or you say you'll do it later (but of course, later never comes). I am >>>> as guilty as anyone about this for lab stuff. Some insight from my brief >>>> time working in industry: I have to document everything I write here for IP >>>> reasons and there is a lot going on every day so I don't really have time >>>> to revisit old code. Therefore I have to document right away or it's never >>>> going to happen. >>>> >>>> I thought Barak's attempt at organizing this was noble and was sad to >>>> see that people didn't have time to do it, even if it was just a day or >>>> two. I think another attempt should be made. Remember that your legacy as a >>>> scientist will be defined in large part by who uses your code after you >>>> have moved on from the lab. Therefore a day or two of your life to document >>>> as much as possible will have a high impact on your output. We have many >>>> lab alumni who spent five years on a project that no one else can use >>>> because it wasn't properly documented (I myself am still trying to make >>>> sure this doesn't happen). Honestly, I think Andrej should crack down a >>>> little more on this, i.e not signing off on paper submission until all the >>>> code that was used to do it is documented, or something like that, but I >>>> imagine he would prefer a more organic solution. >>>> >>>> Another suggestion which might be extreme is to hire a summer college >>>> intern whose sole job would be documentation. That would actually get them >>>> to be the IMP expert and if they wanted to go into our field it would be a >>>> great way to start, and we would get the benefit of documented code. >>>> >>>> (tl;dr ?) >>>> >>>> thanks, >>>> dave >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> IMP-dev mailing listIMP-dev@salilab.orghttps://salilab.org/mailman/listinfo/imp-dev >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> IMP-dev mailing list >>>> IMP-dev@salilab.org >>>> https://salilab.org/mailman/listinfo/imp-dev >>>> >>>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> IMP-dev mailing list >> IMP-dev@salilab.org >> https://salilab.org/mailman/listinfo/imp-dev >> >> > > > -- > Barak >