Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Modern Vim

modernvim.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 37 posts

Re: Modern Vim

#21

Post by cage433 »

Did you consider using the approach taken by http://www.gigamonkeys.com/book/? In that case each chapter was put online as soon as it was written, and then rewritten after taking account of comments. Only when it was finished was the hard copy published.

In the end it made for a far better book, and I believe the author made as much money, possibly even more than if he had followed a more traditional process. In any case I don't suppose you were planning to retire on the proceeds of a book on Vim.

Best of luck, however you choose to write it. I look forward to reading it.

Re: Modern Vim

#23

Post by joelhooks »

cage433 wrote: post #21

Did you consider using the approach taken by http://www.gigamonkeys.com/book/ ? In that case each chapter was put online as soon as it was written, and then rewritten after taking account of comments. Only when it was finished was the hard copy published. In the end it made for a far better book, and I believe the author made as much money, possibly even more than if he had followed a more traditional process. In any…

http://designinghypermediaapis.com/

This is one that I bought and enjoy. He also set up a mailing list so readers had a place to discuss.

Re: Modern Vim

#24

Post by crimsoncoder »

bengl wrote: post #12
sudonim wrote: post #10

After signing up: "Thanks! I'll send you an email once the book is released." How about sharing vim tips every week as you are writing the book? If you write me one email 8 months from now, I'll probably forget who you are.

Hmm, I don't want to be spammy, but this could be a good idea. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

You could also take the approach the Django Book originally did. Posting the book online while you write, with editing help from the community and a print version available once complete. I would definitely buy the print version as well as use the web reference.

Re: Modern Vim

#25

Post by antidoh »

bengl wrote: post #12
sudonim wrote: post #10

After signing up: "Thanks! I'll send you an email once the book is released." How about sharing vim tips every week as you are writing the book? If you write me one email 8 months from now, I'll probably forget who you are.

Hmm, I don't want to be spammy, but this could be a good idea. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

Yes please.

Re: Modern Vim

#26

Post by chucklarge »

bengl wrote: post #12
sudonim wrote: post #10

After signing up: "Thanks! I'll send you an email once the book is released." How about sharing vim tips every week as you are writing the book? If you write me one email 8 months from now, I'll probably forget who you are.

Hmm, I don't want to be spammy, but this could be a good idea. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

send the emails with an unsubscribe link. you'll be fine.

Re: Modern Vim

#27

Post by kamaal »

We don't need a book.

We need a vim installer that can do all those things which you will have to otherwise spend time and work endless hours customizing vim to do.

The reason why people move to modern GUI based editors is those editors do many things out of the box which you have to otherwise spend time learning and then do it.

Re: Modern Vim

#28

Post by dllthomas »

bengl wrote: post #12
sudonim wrote: post #10

After signing up: "Thanks! I'll send you an email once the book is released." How about sharing vim tips every week as you are writing the book? If you write me one email 8 months from now, I'll probably forget who you are.

Hmm, I don't want to be spammy, but this could be a good idea. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

Much like others have said, when people sign up for content giving them content isn't spammy. Do include an unsubscribe link. Also include a subscribe link, include content worth forwarding, and sell more books.

Edited to add: Might want to have a "just tell me when the book is ready, no more o' these" just in case. But really, if people aren't interested in content similar to what's in the book, why are they buying the book?

Re: Modern Vim

#29

Post by steevdave »

kamaal wrote: post #27

We don't need a book. We need a vim installer that can do all those things which you will have to otherwise spend time and work endless hours customizing vim to do. The reason why people move to modern GUI based editors is those editors do many things out of the box which you have to otherwise spend time learning and then do it.

I've been using the same vimrc (and gvimrc) for at least 4 years (minor tweaks when something breaks, of course). But 99% of the time, it's identical and set up exactly how I like it, versus the magical GUI IDEs that change where options are, or what they are called. I don't have time for that (and I use the same vimrc on windows, Mac and Linux).

Sure the initial set up is difficult. But once it's done, it's done.

Post reply on HN