[Oberon] Re: New Oberon users bootstrap improvement project

[Stefan Salewski]

Edgar at EdgarSchwarz.de wrote:

> Hi,
> I followed the discussion about the problems of new Oberon users
> for a while. 
> What's the problem with the existing stuff ?
> What do you think of my proposals ?
> 
> Cheers, Edgar
> 
> 
Hello!

I think that there is enough documentation and information
to install ETH-Native-Oberon or BlueBottle-Oberon and start using it.

I have installed Native-Oberon three years ago for the first time, I 
think it was not too diffical. A few weeks ago I have installed 
BlueBottle-Oberon. Was simple too. 

At each new installation my biggest problem is again and again the 
danger of destroying the integrity of the other two 
operating-systems, which resides on my computer, and which I need for
my daily work. In spite of the carefully work of Pieter Muller and 
others at ETH there will be always a little risk if installing 
ETH-Oberon to a non empty computer. I know there is an ETH-Oberon 
which runs under Linux, and an ETH-Oberon runnig under Windows too.
But I prefer Native-Oberon and BlueBottle-Oberon, both in its own 
partition runnig absolutly independent of other systems. 
BlueBottle-Oberon can be started from CD, this is very usefull to 
test hardware compatibility before trying to install to harddisk.

I said that I think that there is enough documentation to install 
Native-Oberon or Blue-Bottle-Oberon and to start working.

But this is only true for people who are willig to invest some time 
and effords. If we want to increase the number of Oberon-Users 
outside of ETH, than more good documentsation, accessible without a 
running Oberon-System, is necessary. Many people prefer to print out 
complete installation instructions before starting installation.

There is very good documentation available at www.oberon.ethz.ch, but 
this is more for experts already familiar with ETH-Oberon. I regret 
that there is so few documentation about BlueBottle available. I 
found only two documents: The language report of Patrik Reali, and a 
text of Prof. Gutknecht called "Do the fish really need remote 
control". 

To gain new users (and developers) outside of ETH, the following may 
be usefull:

- A clear statement of ETH about the planned future of Native-Oberon  
   and BlueBottle.

- A text (pdf, html or plain asccii) at www.oberon.ethz.ch describing 
  the basic concepts of ETH-Oberon.

-A text (pdf, html or plain asccii) at www.oberon.ethz.ch describing  
 the installation of Native-Oberon and BlueBottle.

-A text (pdf, html or plain asccii) at www.oberon.ethz.ch describing  
 the basic usage of Native-Oberon (3-Bottom mouse, commands, ...)

-A pdf-version of "The Oberon companion". Even Better, a book like    
 this one dedicated to BlueBottle. 

I think that the Active-Oberon-Language with BlueBottle-OS is very 
interesting. But at the same time I fear, that ETH-Oberon will die if 
the big ETH people like Pieter Muller and Patrik Reali will leave ETH.

Best regards

  Stefan Salewski