[Python-Dev] The docs, reloaded

[Josiah Carlson]

Georg Brandl <g.brandl at gmx.net> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> over the last few weeks I've hacked on a new approach to Python's documentation.
> As Python already has an excellent documentation framework, the docutils, with a
> readable yet extendable markup format, reST, I thought that it should be
> possible to use those instead of the current LaTeX->latex2html toolchain.
> 
> For the impatient: the result can be seen at <http://pydoc.gbrandl.de>.

I'm generally a curmudgeon when it comes to 'the docs could be done
better'.  But this?  I like it.  A lot.  Especially if you can get these
other features in:

> - a "quick-dispatch" function: e.g., docs.python.org/q?os.path.split would
>    redirect you to the matching location.
> - "interactive patching": provide an "propose edit" link, leading to a Wiki-like
>    page where you can edit the source. From the result, a diff is generated,
>    which can be accepted, edited or rejected by the development team. This is
>    even more straightforward than plain old comments.
> - the same infrastructure could be used for developers, with automatic checkin
>    into subversion.

I'm a bit iffy on yet another tool, but if roundup integration could be
done, I think it would be great.

 - Josiah