[Inkscape-devel] [Fwd: Inkscape article?]

Would anyone like to co-author this article with me? I can help provide guidance, editing, write, if someone wants an in into this writing scene.

Anyone? Please contact me offlist to discuss...

Jon

-------- Forwarded Message --------

From: Phil Hughes <fyl@...1401...> To: jon@...235... Subject: Inkscape article? Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 09:08:05 -0600

Hi Jon:

I have attached a generic message I have been sending out for something special we are doing for TUX. But, I wanted to talk to you about something specific.

I would like to have a very targeted HowTo article on Inkscape. That is, not learning it generically but how to make something specific. It could be a greeting card, beer bottle label, ... I would prefer something you are interested in as long as it could be of generic interest to TUX and TUX-like readers.

Interested? Have any ideas?

Thanks.

Dear TUX Author/Friend of TUX:

TUX is putting together a "bookazine". Yes, that is an industry term. It means a fat magazine with a multi-month life on store shelves. We are doing this to help promote TUX.

This first one (we will likely consider this annually) with be "Linux Desktop Tricks". This will not differ significantly from the normal TUX how-to style other than some articles will be more focused. That is, rather than "Learning to Use X", many will be "Doing Y with X". We also assume the same user profile: KDE desktop users.

TUX has been full of "you can get this here" or "included in most major distributions". For this special edition, while we want to be generic, we also want to offer one concrete starting point.

Authors should assume the following configuration:

• Dapper Drake default DVD install
• Sources list updated to activate all the repositories that were in the file but not "turned on"

What this means is:

• If the program is included in the default DVD install, the article needs to say nothing about getting the software.
• If the program is on the DVD or in any of the Kubuntu-supplied repositories but not installed by default, just state that.
• If the program is not in one of these standard repositories, include the line(s) that must be added to the sources.list file so Adept can get the software.
• If there is no place to get the package using Adept, include where to find it. (Hopefully, we will have virtually zero of these.)

The magazine will include an article that will explain how to update the sources list, how to use Adept to do the install and generic information on getting the required software if you are starting with a different distribution.

As for article size, I have this standard answer: as big as is needed to tell the story. Now, because it is print we have to be sane. We are probably talking 120-130 pages of editorial content for 50 "Tricks". Some will be very small, some will be quite a few pages. So, it is your job to tell me how many pages will be needed to cover the subject and it is my job to add up all the articles and figure out what we have to do to make them fit.

Sample Articles

Articles should be written in a personal way. That is, interacting with the reader rather than sounding like the "distant expert". Sample articles that have appeared in TUX are:

• Wireless Networking with ndiswrapper in TUX #8.
• Konquer Your File Management with KIO in Tux #14.

Articles Needed

The following is a list of article ideas. If you see a topic you would like to write about, please email me. If you have other ideas that you feel might fit in, email me about that as well. The "best" email for me is fyl@...1402...

As for schedule, we will need all the articles by early September. But, this is a big project and is an addition to the production workload so I need to get most of the material during July and August. If you are a regular TUX author, please take that into consideration as it is important that we don't detract from TUX with this project.

1. Running your desktop over the Internet (you're traveling and forgot an important file, you need to edit it but the application isn't on your laptop... how to run applications from remote systems)
2. Fancy up your desktop with Mac and Windoze fonts. You already have the fonts on your Windoze machine and want to use them on your Linux machine too, here's how.
3. Display pop-up messages/reminders on top of applications.
4. How to get cool desktop gadgets like weather stations, fancy clocks, etc. using Superkaramba.
5. Using KMyMoney to do ... (You pick but let's target something specific.)
6. Something using groupware. But, we need groupware that works and a TUX reader can understand.
7. Making free calls over the Internet. Skype? Alternatives? Tricks?
8. Access your Mac and Windoze machines from your Linux box (with a Linux VNC server).
9. Something interesting to do with Bluetooth and mobile phones.
10. Backing up your data. Pretty open. Keep seems to be sick for me. sbackup? Or ...
11. Working with RSS feeds. What they are, why you care and using probably Akregator to play with them.
12. How fast is your connection. (Looking for something KDE-ish or at least GUI-ish here.)
13. Configuring Kmail with GPG.
14. Setting up procmail.
15. ISO editing (with Kiso?)
16. Video conferencing (if we can get a solution for an average TUX reader). Note that Kopete will be covered in an article. The trick is talking to a camera without having to tell people to download and compile code.
17. Using Katapult. What is it, what it will do for you.
18. Dealing with SPAM. I plan to have an article "X ways to deal with SPAM". Feel free to offer your suggestions but, remember, we don't want to be geek here.
19. Education-related articles. We will likely have articles about KWordQuiz, Kig and KmPlot but you are welcome to offer specific ideas here.