Re: [org-babel] Does org-babel needs some simplification?

["Thomas S. Dye" <tsd@tsdye.com>]

On Jun 28, 2010, at 5:51 PM, Torsten Wagner wrote:

> Dear All,
>
> as a (quite, but happy) org-bable user of the first hour I followed up
> the development process actively.
> Nevertheless, some weeks or months pass where I had no need for
> org-babel (yes, really strange I know).
>
> Whenever I come back to org-babel, it takes me a huge amount of time  
> to
> find myself back again in the syntax. Often I spend a day or two  
> heavily
> reading the website and manual again to figure out how to make it  
> working.
>
> There are so many options. tangle files, results, scripting mode,
> sessions, noweb, lot, etc.
>
> Just yesterday, I fighted again to make a simple python script running
> as desired to generate an automatic report. I did this dozen of times
> and even by using some old report as template I still struggle with  
> it.
> Comparing old reports I noticed that I did it in many different ways.
> Tangeling all snipplets, using noweb syntax, with and without session
> support, etc.
>
> Don't get me wrong, I really love org-babel and I think it is really
> great. I just wonder wether it has become too complex and too  
> difficult
> to use to attract most of the org-mode people. Esp. considering people
> who use it not on a regular basis.
>
> Best regards
>
> Torsten

Hi Torsten,

Part of the difficulty might be that certain default behaviors changed  
in the last several months.  What worked in, say, February might not  
work the same way today.  I've been thrown for a loop more than once  
when old files didn't work as they once did.  So, this could cause  
problems for someone away from babel for a few months.

What would you simplify?  Could the library of babel help with this?

All the best,
Tom