[REBOL] Re: How-To promote REBOL?
From: greggirwin:mindspring at: 26-Dec-2001 12:07
Hi YekSoon,
<< I am thinking about REBOL but is wondering what will be the best approach
to showcase REBOL and achieve maximum impact in a short 15 minutes
presentation that
will probably be followed by some Q&A. >>
Here's what I did when I wanted to show people why I was proposing REBOL.
I made sure they had a "clean" machine (i.e. without REBOL installed on it)
and I told them that we should probably download REBOL since they had a fast
internet connection, as that would probably be faster than loading it from
floppy disk (have REBOL with you on a single floppy disk in case you need to
prove that it's all there).
/View downloaded in the blink of an eye on their system, and then I said
Now, let's make sure it installed OK
, and fired it up. I configured it
quickly as I talked about REBOL being designed as a messaging language and
how that applies to what they want to accomplish as well as how it fits in
with the new "connected" world. They should be excited by how quickly and
easily it installs.
Next I went right to the demos section from the desktop and fired up
V-Balls, Paint, and Gel. Making sure to show them how you can pull up the
editor and see the source for any reblet on the desktop. Then I went to the
Docs folder and showed them Ref-Words, Easy-VID, and Easy-Draw (take a
little time to get familiar with them so you know exactly which parts you
want to show off). My audience was impressed with the embedded executable
sample code in Easy-VID and Easy-Draw.
I went to the Sites folder on the desktop to show them what other REBOL
users have published (pick some good, small, examples that you think will
appeal to the various groups in your audience). Finally, I went to the
Library folder to show them what kind of examples are out there (again, pick
a few good examples ahead of time so you can go right to them during your
presentation. Don't waste time searching for things. Be prepared).
I was sure to mention how RT uses REBOL to help them do everything with a
very small team. Their team of about 5 people builds REBOL for over 40
platforms, maintains their web site, provides technical support, and is
constantly improving REBOL and creating new things like IOS.
Make sure they know that the hardest part about having so little time is
that you can't even begin to demonstrate its potential. Dialecting, built-in
compression and encryption support, standard networking protocols,
reflective capabilities, dynamic layouts, external library access, etc.
The most important thing is to be prepared. Practice your demo as much as
possible, saying the words out loud. This will help you to be less nervous.
Another thing you can do is have a little demo script like this to help you
with your timing.
REBOL [
Title: "Demo Timer"
]
start-time: now/time
end-time: start-time + 0:15:00
view layout [
backdrop effect compose [gradient 0x1 (sky) (water)]
across
origin 5
banner "Time Remaining"
banner 100 rate 1
feel [engage: func [face act evt] [
face/text: end-time - now/time
show face
]
]
]
Now, you can use that while you're practicing, so you'll know if you're
staying on track, going faster or slower, or need to add or remove elements
from your presentation.
If you're feeling really confident, you can write the script "live" in front
of your audience as part of your demonstration. If you want to do that, make
sure you can write it from scratch, flawlessly, at *least* 20 times before
doing your demo. Coding under the pressure of a live audience is hard
enough. Introducing one little glitch can be embarrassing and ruin your
entire demo. Don't do it unless you feel *extremely* confident about it. If
you can pull it off, it can work very well.
HTH!
--Gregg