From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Suvayu Ali Subject: Re: Org Tutorials need more structure Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2013 07:34:14 +0200 Message-ID: <20131001053414.GA2622@kuru.dyndns-at-home.com> References: <52474101.7010904@verizon.net> <20130928233159.56203f9f@aga-netbook> <20130929072801.GS12411@kuru.dyndns-at-home.com> <8761tiuttm.fsf@ucl.ac.uk> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Return-path: Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:4830:134:3::10]:48886) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1VQsbL-0002Zu-GH for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Tue, 01 Oct 2013 01:34:37 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1VQsbE-0004Zm-Ql for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Tue, 01 Oct 2013 01:34:26 -0400 Received: from mail-ea0-x231.google.com ([2a00:1450:4013:c01::231]:60551) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1VQsbE-0004ZZ-Jc for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Tue, 01 Oct 2013 01:34:20 -0400 Received: by mail-ea0-f177.google.com with SMTP id f15so3098621eak.22 for ; Mon, 30 Sep 2013 22:34:19 -0700 (PDT) Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <8761tiuttm.fsf@ucl.ac.uk> List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Sender: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org To: Alan Schmitt , emacs-orgmode@gnu.org Cc: "Thomas S. Dye" Hi Alan, Eric, Thomas, and others, On Mon, Sep 30, 2013 at 06:01:57PM +0100, Eric S Fraga wrote: > Alan Schmitt writes: > > > fatkasuvayu+linux@gmail.com writes: > > > >> To me the best way to describe Org is: a programmable and dynamic > >> plain-text note taking platform. > > > > I really like this description. Short, and to the point. > > but it's missing what for me is the key point which got me into org: > time management! So how about > > a programmable and dynamic plain-text note taking time management platform > > but I'm sure somebody else will think something is missing and make > this sentence even longer ;-) I'm glad people seem to like it :). Although I would refrain from extending that particular sentence. This is what was going through my head: 1. What does an Org document look like? It is primarily a text outline. 2. Is there more to the outline? Well I can: - export it, - put metadata on it, like: timestamps, clocks, etc, - put TODO markers on it, ... and so on 3. What about the text (content)? It is really just text, but supports a few nifty things. - Links to other documents, other applications, executable lisp, etc. - It also supports nifty formatting and structural markup. - Tables with a deceptively advanced math engine underneath to do spreadsheet tasks. - Source blocks, optionally which can be evaluated and can interact with other text content in the Org file: tables, other source blocks, etc. But then I thought, "Hmm, I can't put all that." So what is at the core? Outline with text, lets just call that notes. And all the cool features? I can use special markup to add enhance the text, aggregate and filter it, and present it in many ways; that is quite dynamic. I can also program it in pretty much any language. Hence: Org is a programmable and dynamic note taking platform. This still does not do justice, so lets put in supporting follow-up sentences highlighting my favourite bits. Hence my following sentence: All its features are essentially built on this ability: planning & task management, authoring or publishing, literate programming, and what not. Now others can tack on a description for their favourite bit of Org as supporting sentences. Anyway, I thought clarifying my thoughts would help improve the discussion. Hope this helps, :) -- Suvayu Open source is the future. It sets us free.