TeEncontreX, may it be a model for the python CPAN ?

[Manuel Gutierrez Algaba]

I've been working lately in a kind of FAQ for TeX issues. The problem
we have ( I have ) is that there's lot of information spread all over
FAQ's, books... And TeX is quite difficult if you want to do something
special... So I decided to do a database of examples and TIPS. I
ended making TeEncontreX, whose structure  is very simple, and it
gives a reasonable nice interface to the user. Basically it's a
database ( a file with some marks in it) and a python script
(200 lines) that
makes all the job. Now, the question is:
Is a similar scheme worth for python?
Ok, I know Trove is on the way. But I wonder if this kind of bulk
information collecter, rather easy to create, and to add may be good
for creating something reasonbly big with the less of effort.
Instead of the high quality Trove model, a massive low quality model.
Well, all that can be found at
http://www.ctv.es/USERS/irmina/TeEncontreX.html
I've released all the sources in a GPL license.
If you think this could be done (AND IF YOU CAN HELP) then
send me a note.

 What's TeEncontreX ?
--------------------
It's an attempt to collect and centralize all the available data
about TeX, so that:
- Anyone will be able to find information in one place. No need for
books, FAQ's...
- Any newbie can learn TeX very fast, just reading the articles.
- People can add new articles (very easily) to the database.
- A data base of examples and tips can be used.
- The model it's very simple and it's somehow related to XML, because
it's basically a mark-up document, and a (trivial ) parsing system.
- All its contents may be found at
 http://www.ctv.es/USERS/irmina/TeEncontreX.html, where it'll
be updated frequently.

What's TeEncontreX made of?
---------------------------
It's made of three parts:
- The database ( Too.tex). It seems LaTeX, but it won't compile,
because it needs some \begin{verbatim}. Anyway it's a good idea
to have it in that form.
- The parser that creates the set of html. (AnalizaToo.py)
- TeEncontreX itself, that is, the help files ( the result).
All of them are thus: TeEncontreX*html and the main files
is called TeEncontreX.html. This is kept in the file
TeEncontreX.tar.gz It's not necessary, because it can be generated
with AnalizaToo.py and Too.tex, but I admit that nobody has python.

What's the license of it?
-------------------------
It's GPL, but that's the license of the compilation as a whole.
I usually take the articles from USENET or mailing lists, so each
article 'has' an author. If any author wants his article to be
removed from the database, obviously it will be removed or the
article will be 'adapted' :).

How to submit new articles/add articles/create my own database ?
Take a look at Too.tex and you'd realise the way the database is
constructed. Then email me at irmina at ctv.es

As this software is GPL you can build your own database system,
but if you do so, i'd like at least to know it :) , that my work
has been useful and good.

Enjoy it!


--
-------------
Manolo


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