https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25928594-programming-in-d

I just added Ali Çehreli's "Programming in D" on Goodreads. If any of you have accounts, please rate the book, because people do use Goodreads to find books as well as determine if a book is worth their time.

Also, Andrei's book is also on Goodreads if you haven't already rated it: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6660101-the-d-programming-language

Oooh, my book is up there too:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22499498-d-cookbook

On 07/17/2015 12:37 PM, Jack Stouffer wrote:
> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25928594-programming-in-d
>
> I just added Ali Çehreli's "Programming in D" on Goodreads. If any of
> you have accounts, please rate the book, because people do use Goodreads
> to find books as well as determine if a book is worth their time.
>
> Also, Andrei's book is also on Goodreads if you haven't already rated
> it: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6660101-the-d-programming-language

Thank you for doing that.

On a related note, the paper version of the book is in proofing stage: I have just ordered a print copy for proofing. (I don't expect any major problem as what they print is the same as the pdf copy.) It should hit Amazon soon.

I am also trying to determine the price for the paper copy. Unfortunately, the threshold price for standard distribution channels came out to be a little over $17, which is almost the same as what I was hoping to sell for. Adding extended distribution channels pushes the threshold price to over $25. :(

What is a fare price for that book, considering that HTML and PDF versions will always be free anyway?

I have started considering drastic changes to reduce the page count by

- making the font smaller (currently 10pt)

- reducing the margins

- removing the exercise solutions from the book (currently 50 pages)

none of which makes me happy because I've spent a long time on deciding all of that. :-/ I am still sleeping them over.

Ali

On Saturday, 18 July 2015 at 13:34:55 UTC, Ali Çehreli wrote:
> Thank you for doing that.
>
> On a related note, the paper version of the book is in proofing stage: I have just ordered a print copy for proofing. (I don't expect any major problem as what they print is the same as the pdf copy.) It should hit Amazon soon.
>
> I am also trying to determine the price for the paper copy. Unfortunately, the threshold price for standard distribution channels came out to be a little over $17, which is almost the same as what I was hoping to sell for. Adding extended distribution channels pushes the threshold price to over $25. :(
>
> What is a fare price for that book, considering that HTML and PDF versions will always be free anyway?

$20-$30 is the standard price for most programming books so I don't think anyone who is willing to buy physical books in the first place will think that you are charging too much.

> I have started considering drastic changes to reduce the page count by
>
> - making the font smaller (currently 10pt)
>
> - reducing the margins
>
> - removing the exercise solutions from the book (currently 50 pages)

Please don't. This will just make the book a lot less useful. If you make the PDF have more content than the print version there is no reason why anyone would buy the physical copy.

On 2015-07-18 15:34, Ali Çehreli wrote:

> On a related note, the paper version of the book is in proofing stage: I
> have just ordered a print copy for proofing. (I don't expect any major
> problem as what they print is the same as the pdf copy.) It should hit
> Amazon soon.
>
> I am also trying to determine the price for the paper copy.
> Unfortunately, the threshold price for standard distribution channels
> came out to be a little over $17, which is almost the same as what I was
> hoping to sell for. Adding extended distribution channels pushes the
> threshold price to over $25. :(

I actually think that's quite cheap. Compare that with the dragon book [1], which costs $144.83 for the hardcover. And even more for the Kindle version, unless I completely misunderstand the page.

[1] http://www.amazon.com/Compilers-Principles-Techniques-Tools-2nd/dp/0321486811

-- 
/Jacob Carlborg

On Saturday, July 18, 2015 16:29:36 Jacob Carlborg via Digitalmars-d-announce wrote:
> On 2015-07-18 15:34, Ali Çehreli wrote:
>
> > On a related note, the paper version of the book is in proofing stage: I have just ordered a print copy for proofing. (I don't expect any major problem as what they print is the same as the pdf copy.) It should hit Amazon soon.
> >
> > I am also trying to determine the price for the paper copy. Unfortunately, the threshold price for standard distribution channels came out to be a little over $17, which is almost the same as what I was hoping to sell for. Adding extended distribution channels pushes the threshold price to over $25. :(
>
> I actually think that's quite cheap. Compare that with the dragon book [1], which costs $144.83 for the hardcover. And even more for the Kindle version, unless I completely misunderstand the page.
>
> [1] http://www.amazon.com/Compilers-Principles-Techniques-Tools-2nd/dp/0321486811

The dragon book is pretty much in textbook price territory (and it is used as one), so that's _way_ higher than your typical programming books costs, but $25 - $30 is still on the low end. Given that it's also available for free online, I suppose that that does change the equation a bit, since arguably, folks are paying primarily for what it costs to print and distribute it more than really paying Ali for his time and effort, but if it really costs that much to print and distribute it, then that's what it costs. And honestly, if Ali wants to make some money off the print version, I think that that's perfectly reasonable.

I don't know what "extended distribution channels" gets you, so I don't know if that's worth it or not, but I think that it's perfectly reasonable for the book to end up in that price range. Folks who pay for physical books would generally expect a price like that, if not more, especially for a programming book.

- Jonathan M Davis

On Saturday, 18 July 2015 at 13:34:55 UTC, Ali Çehreli wrote:
> On 07/17/2015 12:37 PM, Jack Stouffer wrote:
>> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25928594-programming-in-d
>>
>> I just added Ali Çehreli's "Programming in D" on Goodreads. If any of
>> you have accounts, please rate the book, because people do use Goodreads
>> to find books as well as determine if a book is worth their time.
>>
>> Also, Andrei's book is also on Goodreads if you haven't already rated
>> it: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6660101-the-d-programming-language
>
> Thank you for doing that.
>
> On a related note, the paper version of the book is in proofing stage: I have just ordered a print copy for proofing. (I don't expect any major problem as what they print is the same as the pdf copy.) It should hit Amazon soon.
>
> I am also trying to determine the price for the paper copy. Unfortunately, the threshold price for standard distribution channels came out to be a little over $17, which is almost the same as what I was hoping to sell for. Adding extended distribution channels pushes the threshold price to over $25. :(
>
> What is a fare price for that book, considering that HTML and PDF versions will always be free anyway?
>
> I have started considering drastic changes to reduce the page count by
>
> - making the font smaller (currently 10pt)
>
> - reducing the margins
>
> - removing the exercise solutions from the book (currently 50 pages)
>
> none of which makes me happy because I've spent a long time on deciding all of that. :-/ I am still sleeping them over.
>
> Ali

Seems perfectly reasonable to me. I imagine the free online version will drive sales for the physical version. The tabletop RPG company Paizo puts all of their books for the Pathfinder RPG system up in an early searchable format[1] in addition to selling hardcover books for 40-60$ each, and they're currently dominating the mainstream RPG market. Even if it's available online for free, people love owning physical items, especially if they're value-added.

1. http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/

> The dragon book is pretty much in textbook price territory (and it is used as one), so that's _way_ higher than your typical programming books costs, but $25 - $30 is still on the low end. Given that it's also available for free online, I suppose that that does change the equation a bit, since arguably, folks are paying primarily for what it costs to print and distribute it more than really paying Ali for his time and effort, but if it really costs that much to print and distribute it, then that's what it costs. And honestly, if Ali wants to make some money off the print version, I think that that's perfectly reasonable.
>
> - Jonathan M Davis

I see the dragon book has four authors.  I bet Walter Bright by himself could write a better one. :)

On 19/07/2015 1:34 a.m., Ali Çehreli wrote:
> On 07/17/2015 12:37 PM, Jack Stouffer wrote:
>> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25928594-programming-in-d
>>
>> I just added Ali Çehreli's "Programming in D" on Goodreads. If any of
>> you have accounts, please rate the book, because people do use Goodreads
>> to find books as well as determine if a book is worth their time.
>>
>> Also, Andrei's book is also on Goodreads if you haven't already rated
>> it:
>> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6660101-the-d-programming-language
>
> Thank you for doing that.
>
> On a related note, the paper version of the book is in proofing stage: I
> have just ordered a print copy for proofing. (I don't expect any major
> problem as what they print is the same as the pdf copy.) It should hit
> Amazon soon.
>
> I am also trying to determine the price for the paper copy.
> Unfortunately, the threshold price for standard distribution channels
> came out to be a little over $17, which is almost the same as what I was
> hoping to sell for. Adding extended distribution channels pushes the
> threshold price to over $25. :(
>
> What is a fare price for that book, considering that HTML and PDF
> versions will always be free anyway?
>
> I have started considering drastic changes to reduce the page count by
>
> - making the font smaller (currently 10pt)
>
> - reducing the margins
>
> - removing the exercise solutions from the book (currently 50 pages)
>
> none of which makes me happy because I've spent a long time on deciding
> all of that. :-/ I am still sleeping them over.
>
> Ali

The way to program - Let's think like a D(eveloper).

What I'm doing for it is evil but simple.
Content is free (on Github), free to read + PR/issues for anyone.
Only no generation into e.g. PDF.

Want e.g. PDF, you pay to support me.
So don't make the print copy not as good. Make it good quality, put up the price to a reasonable amount.