It's a huge maintenance effort for us to produce the chm files.
We no longer generate documentation on Windows, but just for the chm generation we have dedicated tools [¹] to create an index (from a json generated via ddoc) and copy the html files.
So I'm wondering if in 2016 someone really needs an offline copy of a website shipped with a binary release?

https://github.com/dlang/dlang.org/pull/1374

[¹]:
https://github.com/dlang/dlang.org/blob/7cc6e938154f90aa49fa6451a85b13e35ab2de99/chmgen.d

On 15/06/2016 10:58 PM, Martin Nowak wrote:
> It's a huge maintenance effort for us to produce the chm files.
> We no longer generate documentation on Windows, but just for the chm
> generation we have dedicated tools [¹] to create an index (from a json
> generated via ddoc) and copy the html files.
> So I'm wondering if in 2016 someone really needs an offline copy of a
> website shipped with a binary release?
>
> https://github.com/dlang/dlang.org/pull/1374
>
> [¹]:
> https://github.com/dlang/dlang.org/blob/7cc6e938154f90aa49fa6451a85b13e35ab2de99/chmgen.d

As long as pdf is still being generated I see no reason to not drop it. Cost vs benefit.

> It's a huge maintenance effort for us to produce the chm files.
>...
> So I'm wondering if in 2016 someone really needs an offline copy of a
> website shipped with a binary release?

i am very glad the chm file exists whenever i am not online, e.g. on a plane or train (free wifi is not a given everywhere). finding something in the local html is quite awkward w/o google...

if it really takes up too much time i will understand if it has to go too, especially if i a am the minority. just saying: i do use it occasionally, and whenever i do it is a big help.

/det

> As long as pdf is still being generated I see no reason to not drop it.
> Cost vs benefit.

not sure what pdf you are referring to.
https://dlang.org/dlangspec.pdf ? - this is only the language spec. the chm contains the whole website incl phobos documentation, compiler options, articles and style guide.

or is there another pdf hiding somewhere?

/det

On 16/06/2016 12:04 AM, captaindet wrote:
>> As long as pdf is still being generated I see no reason to not drop it.
>> Cost vs benefit.
>
> not sure what pdf you are referring to.
> https://dlang.org/dlangspec.pdf ? - this is only the language spec. the
> chm contains the whole website incl phobos documentation, compiler
> options, articles and style guide.
>
> or is there another pdf hiding somewhere?
>
> /det

No no, spec only.
Honestly? I read the source for Phobos even with a internet connection quite often. So having it not included isn't an issue there, but spec is.

On 2016-06-16 00:29, rikki cattermole wrote:
> Honestly? I read the source for Phobos even with a internet connection
> quite often. So having it not included isn't an issue there, but spec is.

real programmers do ...

well, i do sometimes too. but i rather regard myself as an average user, while i see you as an advanced developer. ppl like me like easy digestible documentation.

i don't want to start a fight here. if it has to go it has to go. just making a point that it is useful for some.

maybe a 2nd pdf could be made instead containing the phobos docs?

On 16/06/2016 12:57 AM, captaindet wrote:
> On 2016-06-16 00:29, rikki cattermole wrote:
>> Honestly? I read the source for Phobos even with a internet connection
>> quite often. So having it not included isn't an issue there, but spec is.
>
> real programmers do ...
>
> well, i do sometimes too. but i rather regard myself as an average user,
> while i see you as an advanced developer. ppl like me like easy
> digestible documentation.

I like my information easily digestible too.

> i don't want to start a fight here. if it has to go it has to go. just
> making a point that it is useful for some.
>
> maybe a 2nd pdf could be made instead containing the phobos docs?

The spec is quite a problem in reading it isn't as enjoyable as say Phobos sources. That is why I mention it explicitly. But I have nothing against pdf form of Phobos docs.

On Wednesday, 15 June 2016 at 10:58:04 UTC, Martin Nowak wrote:
> It's a huge maintenance effort for us to produce the chm files.

I didn't know this was a thing. It's cool, but if it is a big inconvenience, then I don't think it needs to be included. I suggest just providing a way for people to make it themselves or download it (and clearly document how to do it).

On Wednesday, 15 June 2016 at 10:58:04 UTC, Martin Nowak wrote:
> It's a huge maintenance effort for us to produce the chm files.
> We no longer generate documentation on Windows, but just for the chm generation we have dedicated tools [¹] to create an index (from a json generated via ddoc) and copy the html files.
> So I'm wondering if in 2016 someone really needs an offline copy of a website shipped with a binary release?
>
> https://github.com/dlang/dlang.org/pull/1374
>
> [¹]:
> https://github.com/dlang/dlang.org/blob/7cc6e938154f90aa49fa6451a85b13e35ab2de99/chmgen.d

Would be cool if you guys take over this and produce an official version:

https://github.com/Kapeli/Dash-User-Contributions/tree/master/docsets/D

Dash (and its free clone Zeal) is massively better than CHM for offline use.

On Wednesday, 15 June 2016 at 10:58:04 UTC, Martin Nowak wrote:
> So I'm wondering if in 2016 someone really needs an offline copy of a website shipped with a binary release?

i use chm doc - it easy integrates with ide