Re: Using Development Versions, Introducing LilyPond to Others

[David Kastrup]

Mark Mathias <address@hidden> writes:

> I appreciate Xavier's suggestion that I move to 2.15. I have not used
> development versions of Lilypond because of the warning, "If you have
> the slightest doubt..." Well, as a non-programmer with a great deal to
> learn, I have a lot of doubt! :-) I notice that 2.16 is close to
> release, so I will take a chance and try 2.15.30.

As a private active user of LilyPond, I would use the development
versions and update frequently.  If I had to install a version for
somebody else who is not going to touch it for a long time
(coursework?), I'd usually tend towards the latest stable.

Caveats for the development version:

- a given version might fail on some platforms.
- the translated versions of the documentation can be expected to be
  lagging behind.
- Your music files might stop working, and a proper convert-ly rule
  might appear with a larger time delay
- your fine-tuned output might change from one release to the next and
  require different tweaks.
- you might experience new problems first and help with tracking them
  down and fixing them.
- not all progress may be forward all of the time.

But there is a lot of excitement happening.

> Recently, I've spoken enthusiastically about Lilypond, not just to my
> students, but to anyone who will listen. So far, I've had no takers.
> Any thoughts on ways to get others interested in Lilypond would be
> welcome.

Arguments are similar to that for LaTeX: you get very good results
without having to mess with details manually.  The online community is
helpful and frie C-h C-h C-h C-h competent.  Even if you don't know
LilyPond at all, fixing somebody's score by changing a few notes is
obvious to do.  You can hand them a complex score and they can study it
without ever having to ask "what menu buttons did you click to get this
effect?" because all the information is plainly in the file.

> For a young person with a love for music and the need to develop
> marketable skills, I can't think of a more enjoyable way to introduce
> how computer commands and programs work than by combining music-making
> and Lilypond. Sometimes it's hard to get the fish to bite even with
> the most delicious food right in front of their noses!

It is not delicious.  It is nourishing, of the "he who comes to me will
never go hungry" kind (probably sounds more like a curse to a gourmet,
so the analogy may not be all that good) because it grows as you become
part of a community and help it grow, communicate what is missing, and
at some point of time become one of those who change that.

-- 
David Kastrup