Wellcome to the Skilltree site!
Skilltree is a design language. In that, it features the opposite of a CASE (Computer-Aided Software Engineering) tool. It allows to specify software logic in object-oriented Pseudocode and then, to generate diagrams, design documents, code starters (in C++ and Python, at present) and plan the project. I undertook to start my own research, because I was displeased with both paradigm and performance of the CASE tools of the time (twenty years ago), and I must confess that I have not looked back upon their progress ever since, so I am not interested in comparison and I wish everyone who uses CASE regularly and is happy with it to live long and prosper.
I have been working on the Skilltree project, in parallel with my regular development and instruction work, since 1994 and on its automation since 1999. I have been using Skilltree regularly to develop my own projects, and have also used it to initiate experienced procedural programers to object-oriented programming (using C++).
Skilltree is work in progress. There is still much work ahead, however, I believe it is now sufficiently featured to be used by - and benefit – the object-oriented developer community. Skilltree is written entirely in Python and is open-source. While I would approciate assistance, I have yet much work to do, before I can dispatch the source in ordelry manner to SourceForge. (Unfortunately, this is not the usual open source project. A product that, in itself, pretends to teach others how to write cannot be delivered half-finished, in the state of a messy working prototype. For example, I am yet to reverse-engineer the software by means of itself.)
To try and appreciate Skilltree, download the Skilltree Windows installer from the Skilltree site at http://www.swskilltree.org/Design/1/1/4.html and install. (The distribution comes in executable form, which already contains Python inside.) Alternatively, you may download the Python sources, install missing third-party libraries (wxPython etc.) and run it from the Pyhtom interpreter. However, Skilltree has never been tested under other platforms (than Windows), and its dependence upon third-party software (which may have to be configured) may require some tweaking, on other platforms.
Unfortunately (or rather, fortunately, from a professional viewpoint), you must be prepared to learn a programming-like language (rather than tweak the controls of a GUI application). There is no two-hour crash course. Once you have the “Skilltree Explorer” GUI running, It is highly recommended that you proceed by studying the tutorial. From the “Help” menu, select “Skilltree help”. Open the “Tutorial” subtree and then the first tutorial – “Programming level”. Study it carefully. This is a “hands on” tutorial. It is recommended that you follow the instructions for entering and changing the ongoing Skilltree project and compare your results with the tutorial. You can download the base Skilltree source – as well as all major stages along the way – from the Skilltree site. From the “Help” menu select “Tutorial sources”.
In addition, you can download some sample Skilltree sources. From the “Help” menu, select ”Sample Designs”.
Good luck, and I wish you will find the language and methodolgy helpful!
Skilltree is – and will remain – open source. The object-oriented developer community is invited to use it free of charge – see “Licence” in the “Help” menu.
Please forward bug reports, notes, suggestions, (and, best of all – patches) to me, at avner@swskilltree.org.
Avner Ben.