Tell us about your book

Posted by J J Weimer
Dec 4, 2017 at 02:11 AM

Hello. This is my first post after a lot of background reading.

I’ve not had a book published, although I’ve been a co-editor on one. I’ve had close to 50 journal articles published as well as a ton of lecture notes, homework problems and solution keys, and associated documents for higher-ed courses in science/engineering. My tool of choice since the late 1980’s has been LaTeX. Those were the days using a VAX system and preparing figures as hard copies on transparency paper in photo-ready format. I’ve since moved to PDFs generated using science/engineering programming (Maple, Igor Pro), basic layout/drawing apps (Curio), and citation management (Papers3/BibTeX) on macOS. I am experimenting with (and have not quite decided whether or how to implement) DevonThink. As a test case for this, I have a first-year graduate text on materials science in an ongoing stage of preparation, with a (somewhat open) goal to submit this coming summer.

I have enjoyed reading the range of comments on various topics here. I have on numerous occasions taken side trips to a Website of this or that app solely because someone on this forum recommended or commented on it. I must say that I thank everyone who has posted in that way for providing such a treasure in itself. The allure to CRIMP is in me. I tend however to get frustrated or bored quickly with apps that I don’t grok in a few sessions (and the Taurus in me keeps me stubbornly pinned to the tools that I know well even when I suspect that something else might be better). I prefer instead to meander around inside various tools for scientific/engineering programming, with python currently on my plate.