Back cover text

[shiffman]

needs to be finalized.

@shannonfry i love your recent changes dd6a73e2b828ea56d6bafceedbec73c58c9a4a86

however, i wasn't sure about the use of "

"advanced coding tools that enable sophisticated visual results."

I changed that to:

"advanced generative algorithms that enable sophisticated visual results."

And then since we already used generative I changed the end from:

"setting the foundation for further experiments in generative design."

to

"setting the foundation for further experiments in simulation."

Actually, I like generative design there MUCH better. Maybe just "advanced algorithms"?

How about:

"This book focuses on a range of programming strategies and techniques behind computer simulations of natural systems, from basic concepts in mathematics and physics to more advanced algorithms that enable sophisticated visual results. Using the open-source language Processing, readers will progress from creating inanimate objects to complex systems and intelligent moving objects, setting the foundation for further experiments in generative design."

relevant commits: ae7b565c6b8b6c9e87c3f6274859c6f646f49cdf and 4a03b540272e8698605d4cdbcf3cd1713207ac78

[shannonfry]

Excellent! "advanced algorithms" is much better :)

[shiffman]

Ok, for some reason I didn't like inanimate objects (it makes sense in the text but out of context feels weird.) How about:

"This book focuses on a range of programming strategies and techniques behind computer simulations of natural systems, from basic concepts in mathematics and physics to more advanced algorithms that enable sophisticated visual results. Using the open-source language Processing, readers will progress from building a basic physics engine to creating intelligent moving objects and complex systems, setting the foundation for further experiments in generative design."

Also, for the Amazon listing I am going to add in "Subjects covered include forces, trigonometry, fractals, cellular automata, self-organization, genetic algorithms, and neural networks." I want these terms to show up in searches, but yes, they don't need to be on the back cover.

[shannonfry]

Agreed—meant to say that those subjects are fine in a longer description of the book!

I think that "building a basic physics engine" sounds better, but then "basic" is used twice. Can we say "from elementary concepts in mathematics and physics" or something like that?

On Nov 28, 2012, at 9:44 PM, Daniel Shiffman notifications@github.com wrote:

Ok, for some reason I didn't like inanimate objects (it makes sense in the text but out of context feels weird.) How about:

"This book focuses on a range of programming strategies and techniques behind computer simulations of natural systems, from basic concepts in mathematics and physics to more advanced algorithms that enable sophisticated visual results. Using the open-source language Processing, readers will progress from building a basic physics engine to creating intelligent moving objects and complex systems, setting the foundation for further experiments in generative design."

Also, for the Amazon listing I am going to add in "Subjects covered include forces, trigonometry, fractals, cellular automata, self-organization, genetic algorithms, and neural networks." I want these terms to show up in searches, but yes, they don't need to be on the back cover.

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[shiffman]

done! b7489d1cb4ff9a817f86b07b83eb6688d97e20f4

this is the final back cover text: https://github.com/shiffman/The-Nature-of-Code/blob/master/cover/cover.txt