Re: A thought on Windows Experience

[James Harkins]

On Monday, December 9, 2013 4:52:08 PM HKT, David Kastrup wrote:
> James Harkins <address@hidden> writes:
>
> > Carl's two-column approach is pretty much what I had in
> > mind. Although, he suggests this would be only a slight improvement. I
> > think it could be more than that. Suppose we introduce the downloads
> > with a couple of paragraphs across the top:
> >
> > ~~
> > IMPORTANT: A complete working environment for LilyPond consists of two
> > components: LilyPond itself, and a music editor. If you have installed
> > only one of these, then you're not experiencing LilyPond's full power.
>
> That's nonsensical.  You'll be experiencing LilyPond's full power if and
> only if you have LilyPond itself installed.

<tongue in cheek>
That's splitting hairs, isn't it? If you install only an editor, you'll get 
0% of LilyPond's power. This is, indeed, less than "full power." My wording 
underestimates the severity of failing to install LilyPond, but one would 
hope (of all possible details to omit) that this might go without saying.
</tongue in cheek>

> LilyPond is a _command_ _line_ application translating files written in
> LilyPond's music description language [see text input] into complete
> scores.  It does _not_ constitute a work environment.  What you will be
> working with for entering your scores is either a text editor of your
> choice, or a tool specialized for creating LilyPond files.

Sure, that sounds good.

> Denemo: this is a GUI application for writing music scores that uses
> LilyPond internally for creating its output.....

I think this is too much to ask people to read on the download page. The 
download page should be as simple as possible and direct people toward the 
resources they need. Much more than that, and you get into TL;DR territory. 
Linking directly from the proposed "editors" section of the download page 
to the "Easier editing" page would be more appropriate, I think.

What we want users to get is the idea that they will need *some* editor, 
which the download page can do in a compact way. Providing a brain-dead 
easy "can't miss it" link to profiles of the various editors, and links 
directly to the Denemo and Frescobaldi homepages, would be enough.

hjh