Swarm by example (was Re: Open source? -> Need to read source to model?)

[glen e. p. ropella]

At 11:50 PM 1/17/00 -0800, Darren Schreiber wrote:
> Until something like MAML is ready for primetime, I think documented short
> sample code can be one of the best teaching tools.  Marcus has created a
> number of these over time and Paul has put some of them together.  But
> short bits of working code can often illustrate solutions to problems in
> ways that other resources cannot.  And, if they are explained... their
> value increases exponentially...

Very cool!  So, here's an idea we can really take a bite
out of.  We have a fairly coherent effort to write a user's
guide (thanks guys).  And we have ref docs that, while aren't
that helpful as learning tools; but, as ref docs are intended
to do, they help you get through the small gaps in memory after
you've already learned most of Swarm.

Catherine, Sven, and I intended to put some effort into writing
an ABM with Swarm guide; but, none of us have put much time into
it.

How about we put together a "Swarm by Example" book?  This would
be easier than writing a real user's guide, because it would
basically just be a database of all the examples Marcus and others
have been generating.  I, personally, don't like to learn this
way.  I'd rather read a reference manual and just dive in.  But,
I've heard from many others that learning by example is one of
the best ways to learn.

If this is interesting, we will need volunteers.

glen

--
glen e. p. ropella =><= Feeding the hamster wheel.  Hail Eris!
Home: http://www.swarm.com/gepr                (505) 424-0448
Work: http://www.swarm.com                      (505) 995-0818


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