New Web Cooke Book

Charles Cooke has released an update of the “Nvu User Guide.” The new release refines his 15 July 2005 edition with a more assertive style. The work reflects Mr. Cooke’s personal experience with the Nvu 1.0 product as well as the improved KompoZer update. The difficulty of dealing with two applications is handled really well particularly when one considers that KompoZer continues to evolve.

Nvu and KompoZer WYSIWYG HTML editors are fairly intuitive where one has a general understanding of how computer things work. I found the instructions when I first used Nvu but generally read them when all else failed. Reviewing the new instructions I often found myself thinking “that is really good” only to find the same comment in the first edition. As they say, “Yesterday’s paper is still news if you haven’t read it." Charles’ “Cooke Book” has always been instructive for new web authors but is even more so in the update.

I was personally pleased to read, “Ideally it should be possible to use Nvu without any knowledge of this language and certainly without a knowledge of the details. As a precaution however a limited understanding is desirable.” (3.3.1 Tutorial ) Charles was referring to HTML and whether the applications were meant for use by novice authors. I’ll have more on that point another day.

As a User and a Teacher

Mr. Cooke started his first release as notes for his personal use. The published version reflected his discipline as an engineer to be a factual presentation. Charles observed the difficulties of others in trying to master the application and has dealt with many of us by patiently answering our questions. Because he has developed a fair amount of expertise it is good to see his assertions come forth in the updated User’s Guide.

In Section 3 Charles raises his voice a bit when he says, “I recommend that users create the Strict HTML variant.” Mr. Cooke expands on this preference in Appendix 3 were more detail is offered on DOCTYPE. Links are also provided to result in a head-slap and, “Now I get it!” I remember his post on a support forum saying that he had typed that recommendation until blue in the face.

Mr. Cooke has been helpful to me personally in his responses to user questions and is playing an active role in proofing and debugging the new KompoZer release candidates. In the world of free and open source software you would clearly find him lined up with the good guys who give selflessly for the benefit of all.

As he says in the book, there is no reason not to download a free copy of KompoZer and his user guide and start authoring. Don’t wait until all else has failed before reading the instructions!

Wysi