From John McSweeny's notes on Galway session (see #449924: Notes regarding Getting Started and Cookbook docs).
The Cookbook for Beginners http://drupal.org/handbook/customization/tutorials/beginners-cookbook includes a lot of information that is not really pertinent to beginners. This information should either be placed in a "more advanced" section(s), or perhaps the pages would be better off moved to a different handbook entirely?
Here are John's suggestions for organization and priorities:
CookBook1 - Basic install(no multisite),Recommendations on what to set up (like whats in the current basic configuration section, install Admin module etc, and how to go from test to deploy). What core modules should be turned on. What minimal list of non core modules that are useful for any site (assuming most sites want images/galleries etc.)
There shouldn't really be any content generation specific stuff in here beyond a front page/Story.
CookBook2 - Say 2/3 site recipes, Vanilla 5 page site?, blog, E-Commerce site.
CookBook3 - MultiSite and other more complex topics, but at a reasonably high level with links to the detailed discussions/docs.
Comments
Comment #1
jhodgdondcor from the same session also commented:
Creating Multiple Sites On a Local Computer page: Maybe move to near the end of the cookbook... because I'm too much of a newbie and I haven't even made content yet!!! - did not follow or try out as a result of not needing it.
Comment #2
jhodgdondcor also commented, regarding cookbook organization:
Error pages: Again... tell me how to make content first!!! Also, activating modules gave me errors.... what's up with that?
Setting up cron: Doesn't really answer anything but relates the author's experience. The drupal site pages are helpful in saying what it's for... but yeah... still don't get it.
Accessing Your Test Site(s) ----- Add1sun reports this is only pertaining to that particular stack... after I asked based on acquia's installation...
Comment #3
nancydruJennifer, just so you know, the Cookbook was my baby and I can be sensitive to what is said and done to it. I would appreciate a heads up before major changes are done.
Comment #4
jhodgdonMaybe you'd like to take on a bit of reorganization, in that case?
Comment #5
MGParisi commentedI have simplified the original page, without looking at or knowing about this issue... feel free to continue to edit and change this...
Comment #6
MGParisi commentedWe (as in more then 4 people) have worked extensively on the front page.
@NancyDru -- Please feel free to bring up all issues regarding the editing of these pages to Add1sum.
-1 to more then 1 cookbook for beginners. Its hard enough maintaining 1!
Comment #7
add1sun commentedThis has been rearranged so i"m marking this fixed.