Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

GNOME Programming Manual

Posted by justin++ on from the libro-libre dept.

Havoc Pennington (the guy who does those weekly GNOME summaries, among other things) writes "I've just completed a book on GTK+/GNOME programming to be released under a free license. You can pre-order from Amazon now; it should be available in a couple months. The full announcement is on www.gnome.org. "

25 comments

  1. GTK - intro by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, sort of on-topic - I picked up the July issue of Linux Magazine this weekend - has an intro to GTK programming that might be interesting to some folk here (being that that's GNOME's toolkit), also - interview with RMS and an article on Licensing by Bruce Perens.

    Unfortunately, their website isn't very useful just yet. Here it is

    Oh, anyone ELSE see SuSE 6.1 at Best Buy this weekend for $29.95? ;)

  2. ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'll buy it when I see it in bookstores, or had a chance to skim it on-line and see that it's good. None of this preordering business for me.

    1. Re:... by Edward+Carter · · Score: 1

      It's not the whole book, but take a look at this.

  3. Re:SuSE 6.1 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yep. Caldera 2.2 was also there for $32 w/ a $10 mail in rebate. I still got the SuSE 6.1, though.

  4. uhm howd you read it,,, its not out yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ?!!?!??!!??!

    1. Re:uhm howd you read it,,, its not out yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's correct, James saw an advance copy.

      James - thanks for the kind words. :-)

      -Havoc

    2. Re:uhm howd you read it,,, its not out yet by AMK · · Score: 1

      Henstridge maintains the Python/GTk+ bindings and various other GNOME-related things; he was probably a tech reviewer on drafts of the book. Practically all publishers send manuscripts to tech reviewers, and they usually try to get other notable developers in the community as reviewers.

  5. Re:No Texinfo? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah, I have it in a bizarre XML format I made
    up. This was necessary at the time, but one of
    the first things we'll do when the text goes
    online is consider a more reasonable format.

    -Havoc

  6. Re:Downloadable? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    NOO PS SUCKS, but not as bad as PDF WITH REALLY SUCKS, imho..
    I would like this to be availbable in HTML format, else I won't read it.

  7. So did he get the $20,000 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    wasn't the fsf offering BIG cash for this a week or two ago?

  8. Re:Downloadable? by V. · · Score: 1

    Did you actually read what was at the link? He states that the book will be available at least via anon. CVS.

  9. No Texinfo? by Jerky+McNaughty · · Score: 2

    Sadly, it looks like the author has moved away from the usual GNU style by not using Texinfo. I've always loved being able to produce PostScript, HTML, and GNU info files from the same input. It's nice to be able to view them from within Emacs.

    But, at least the book is going to be truly free, so if I or someone else feels so inclined, we could make a Texinfo version ourself.

    1. Re:No Texinfo? by DuckWing · · Score: 1
      You mean like PDF *duck*.

      Actually, I'd like to see it many formats, PDF, HTML, Texinfo, PS, etc. You should cover all bases, IMHO.

      --
      -- DuckWing
  10. Re:Downloadable? by Phantasmagoria · · Score: 1

    PS is sucky?
    No way, Postscript rocks!
    ------------------

    --
    Loban Amaan Rahman ==> Anagram of ==> Aha! An Abnormal Man!
  11. Re:Cool. by boc · · Score: 1

    Check out developer.gnome.org. It's still being updated but has quite a bit of information and resources.

  12. Downloadable? by Psiren · · Score: 1

    So will a copy of this book be available online for download? Thats what the "free" means in this context, doesn't it? Not everyone has the money to buy programming books, and half of those I own I never look at anyway. Online documentation is generally better.

    1. Re:Downloadable? by Psiren · · Score: 1

      Did you actually read what was at the link? He states that the book will be available at least via anon. CVS.

      Well, I skimmmed. Too fast obviously, since I missed this. I hope they don't just use CVS though. And I hope they don't use some sucky format like PS.

    2. Re:Downloadable? by Psiren · · Score: 1

      Did you actually read what was at the link? He states that the book will be available at least via anon. CVS.

      Well, I skimmmed. Too fast obviously, since I missed this. I hope they don't just use CVS though.

    3. Re:Downloadable? by godel · · Score: 1

      > sceptic tank? As opposed to a trusting one?
      I doubt it.

      *duck*

      ---Jason

    4. Re:Downloadable? by cluke · · Score: 1

      a sceptic tank? As opposed to a trusting one?

  13. Cool. by BJH · · Score: 1


    Looking at the documentation available for GNOME/Gtk+ and KDE, I've found the KDE documentation to be more complete - which is annoying, because I want to program under GNOME. If this book is any good, I'll be first in line...

  14. I would recommend this book by JamesHenstridge · · Score: 1

    For all those people wanting to learn GNOME programming, I would recommend this book. It is quite well written, and comes from one of the main GNOME hackers (who better to teach you how to develop for GNOME?)

    If you have had trouble understanding the GTK object system (or haven't realised how elegant it is yet :), this book gives a good description of it, and how to use it in your own programs (to create new widgets).

    It is great that Havoc and his publishers have allowed this book to be distributed in such an open manner.

    1. Re:I would recommend this book by Pont · · Score: 1

      Who better?

      Well, somebody who came from the same knowledge I did (no Linux GUI programming experience), and became an expert would be better at teaching ME how to use them.

      I'll skim before I buy.
      --
      "I got it running, grabbed a rocket launcher, and fired down a hallway." --John Carmack

  15. good to see by Edward+Carter · · Score: 1

    If this book is *half* as helpful as Havoc is on gtk-list@redhat.com, it will be well worth the money.

  16. Laurie is looking for Open Source authors by Russ+Nelson · · Score: 1

    Laurie Petrycki is looking for more Open Source authors, to publish books in the same manner. If you have a book proposal, or just want to talk about one, send her email.

    --
    Don't piss off The Angry Economist