TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Programmer/Writers From:Diane Brennan <dalaine00 -at- yahoo -dot- com> To:Ed <hamonwry12 -at- hotmail -dot- com>, Edgar D' Souza <edgar -dot- b -dot- dsouza -at- gmail -dot- com> Date:Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:44:05 -0800 (PST)
And when you google the error messages, you will probably get hits on an article written by a programmer writer. The programmer writer position is a technical writer who writes information for programmers. Not a person who is working half-time as a writer and half-time as a programmer. I have an English degree--not a programming degree. Although I've taken a lot of programming courses. For an example of the type of documentation that a programmer writer writes, take a look here:
--- On Mon, 1/26/09, Edgar D' Souza <edgar -dot- b -dot- dsouza -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
From: Edgar D' Souza <edgar -dot- b -dot- dsouza -at- gmail -dot- com>
Subject: Re: Programmer/Writers
To: "Ed" <hamonwry12 -at- hotmail -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Monday, January 26, 2009, 7:02 AM
On Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 7:55 PM, Ed <hamonwry12 -at- hotmail -dot- com> wrote:
> I became a writer because I *can't* program. I've tried, keep
trying, and it
> just doesn't make sense in my head. I can read and mostly understand
> others'code, and I can write HTML and CSS in my sleep, but when it
comes to
> writing actual code, I don't understand why a few lines that seem to
make
> sense in my head won't do what I want them to do.
Well, there's at least one difference between the two Eds :-)
I've programmed in Visual Basic, Javascript, PHP, Python, Borland
Delphi, multiple SQL dialects, and more :-)
I have to admit to the frustration that you feel, fellow Ed, for at
times I have wondered the same... but if you stick at it, read the
error messages, and Google those error messages, deliverance is
usually quick.
Mind you, I was programming and debugging way before Google existed,
so it hasn't always been the only method of resolution - but in this
day and age, it's pretty much the best way to start. :-)
> This is also the big problem I have with XSL - who decided design should
be
> created in code?
Arrghh... there, I totally agree with you, fellow Ed! I have suffered
much misery on account of XSL, and I doubt the DITA OT is done with me
yet! :-( And Google... wait, let me not say anything about it in this
arena :-(
ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing
solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or
HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. http://www.doctohelp.com
Help & Manual 5: The complete help authoring tool for individual
authors and teams. Professional power, intuitive interface. Write
once, publish to 8 formats. Multi-user authoring and version control! http://www.helpandmanual.com/
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as dalaine00 -at- yahoo -dot- com -dot-
ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing
solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or
HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. http://www.doctohelp.com
Help & Manual 5: The complete help authoring tool for individual
authors and teams. Professional power, intuitive interface. Write
once, publish to 8 formats. Multi-user authoring and version control! http://www.helpandmanual.com/
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
