Fresh 'Dr Wimp's Surgery' PDF now available

As of today, Tuesday 1st November, Archive Magazine is hosting Ray Favre’s book ‘Dr Wimp’s Surgery’. It has been reborn thanks to the former editor of the magazine, the late Jim Nagel, and John McCartney. There is an article describing its gestation in the current issue of the magazine, Archive 26:1. Ray ‍Favre, ‍who ‍died ‍in ‍May ‍2010, ‍left ‍a ‍note ‍with ‍his ‍will ‍asking ‍that ‍‍Archive ‍Magazine ‍look ‍after ‍his ‍books, ‍software ‍and ‍website.

The book is a free download as a PDF file. It is as faithful a recreation of the second edition (from March 2003) as possible apart from the addition of a new foreword and an explanation of some necessary minor changes.

It is intended that a third edition should appear in due course which will reflect the changes made to the included DrWimp library which was at version 3.80 in 2003 whereas it currently stands at version 5.02.

John has the layout well in hand, however, it has been a single-handed effort so far and he would like some help to complete this next phase of the project. He is not a programmer so will need assistance in the form of suggestions for improvements, correction of errors and general criticism of the changes to readability which he has made so far.

I would like to reprint the second edition in the same format as the original, A5 and spiral bound. I need to assess interest in this aspect of the project so if you might consider buying it, please let me know at the address below. Once the number of potential buyers is known, I will get quotes from the printer and assess the viability of proceeding to print.

I can be contacted at gavin@archivemag.co.uk
The book can be found at https://drwimp.archivemag.co.uk
John can be contacted at docwimp@gmail.com

As the perpetrator of the above, I feel I need to add my own comments.

The PDF file available from the Archive web site has had a very restricted number of proof-readers. Apart from me, the number totals zero. If anyone manages to find grammatical, stylistic or technical errors, no matter how trivial, let me know and I’ll do my best to ignore you.

Of greater importance is the third edition. I won’t describe it as forthcoming as that would imply imminent and that is definitely not the case. It will need not only proof-reading but, firstly, a critical appraisal of the changes I’ve (so far) made.

It’s not in its final state but it’s far enough along the process that the changes show what it might eventually look like. If anyone fancies telling me that I’ve made a right mess of it, get in touch at the address Gavin has given above and I’ll send you a copy along with a rationale for the changes I propose.

Currently, it’s only feedback on the style changes that I need; proof-reading can wait until much closer to the final version.

So, if anyone fancies upsetting an old man, here’s your chance.

let me know and I’ll do my best to ignore you.

Yup, that’s about the right level of sarcasm. 👍

Well, I don’t know about upsetting an old man, but I’ll take a look. Whether I’ll have anything useful to say I don’t know, but I do know how to avoid proofreading, and am very willing to do proofreading when it’s needed later, if (a) it’s wanted, and (b) I find the book interesting.

I’ve never used DrWimp. I’ve written a few Wimp apps in BBC BASIC, in recent times just by editing* things I wrote around 1990 when I used a book called WIMP Programming For All (if I remember the title correctly, could be wrong – it’ll appear from a box sooner or later but it’s not that long since we moved…) – I suspect DrWimp might enable me to be more ambitious in what I get up to. We’ll see.

* That is, writing whole new sections to do whatever the new app is doing, and minor if any edits to the Wimpy bits.

Yup, that’s about the right level of sarcasm.

Thank you, Rick. Life’s too trivial to be taken seriously…

Thank you too, Clive. Remember, all I want at the moment is confirmation (or otherwise) that the changes I’ve wrought so far are on the right lines. The structure of the book is the same as was. I just want guidance as to the wisdom of the changes.

Thank you, Rick. Life’s too trivial to be taken seriously…

A view I’ve worked with since I was still in junior school. Works for me, and either I’m contagious or our department has picked up a number of like-minded folk who just happen to work in my section.
Of course it takes a fair bit of serious effort to be flippant so often.

Query – the text uses “iconbar” the Style Guide says “icon bar”

Not looked at programming content, god forbid you should need my input on that.

BTW. Would you like info in one lump, to make it easier to ignore?

Query – the text uses “iconbar” the Style Guide says “icon bar”

The Style Guide has it! Although I have a copy, I’ve been referring to the current User Guide. I’ll cross-check when I get home from house-sitting at my daughter’s while an Ash tree is taken down. I’ll go and take some more photos…

Not looked at programming content, god forbid you should need my input on that.

That’s my blind spot too. It’s why I need help. (You can read into that what you will!)

BTW. Would you like info in one lump, to make it easier to ignore?

Preferably one big lump rather than dribs and drabs. Thanks.

More importantly from a developer’s perspective who will check the manuals (;-)), the PRMs since RISC OS 2 days have been ‘icon bar’

All will be fine just so long as you don’t call it “RiscOS”. ;)

RiscOS

I’d just had my lunch, thanks.

Just for information, the page and download link are broken under NetSurf.