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<preface id="prg-preface">
  <title>Preface</title>

  <para>
    This book is a guide to using Pyrite, a library which provides
    access to Palm Computing platform devices and their data using the
    Python language.  It describes Pyrite's design and the rationale
    behind it, and is a reference to the contents and usage of each
    part of Pyrite.
  </para>

  <para>
    This book is targeted at readers who are already familiar with
    Python programming, and generally acquainted with the Palm
    Computing platform.  Experience with programming applications for
    the Palm Computing platform is helpful, but not required. However,
    if you are not familiar with how the Palm Computing platform
    works, I recommend reading the Palm Computing SDK documentation
    (especially part 3) and the Conduit Development Kit documentation.
    (Both are available in PDF format from the Palm Computing web site
    at <literal><ulink url="http://www.palm.com/">http://www.palm.com/</ulink></literal>.)
  </para>

  <para>
    Pyrite is based on Sulfur, a Python application framework.  Some
    parts of this document will assume that you are already familiar
    with Sulfur; please read the Sulfur documentation before working
    with Pyrite.
  </para>
  
  <sect1>
    <title>Synopsis</title>

    <para>
      At present, this book consists only of reference material.  In
      the future, it will be expanded to multiple parts, and include
      in-depth information about Pyrite application and plug-in
      development.
    </para>
  </sect1>
  
  <sect1>
    <title>Acknowledgements</title>

    <para>
      Like much Open Source software, Pyrite builds upon work done by
      other members of the community.  In particular, I would like to
      recognize Kenneth Albanowski, the author and maintainer of the
      pilot-link suite and the original Python binding which Pyrite
      replaces.  I would also be remiss if I failed to mention Guido
      van Rossum and the many others without which there would be no
      Python for me to write Pyrite in.  I would also like to thank
      3Com/Palm Computing for being developer-friendly, which is
      undoubtedly one of the reasons why the Palm Computing platform
      is so popular and well supported today.  And of course, without
      my fellow Debian developers I wouldn't have such a nice
      operating system to develop Pyrite on.
    </para>
    <para>
      Finally, I would like to thank everyone out there who has
      downloaded and tried this software.  If not for your ideas,
      comments, and patches, I would have given up long ago.
    </para>
  </sect1>

  <sect1>
    <title>Production Notes</title>
    <para>
      The source to this document is written in the DocBook SGML DTD,
      which means it can easily be converted to a number of other
      formats including HTML, DVI, and PostScript.
    </para>
    <para>
      This document was prepared on a Debian GNU/Linux system using a
      number of Open Source tools including PSGML, Jade, JadeTeX, SP,
      and the modular DocBook stylesheets.  You will need most of them
      if you plan to regenerate it from source.
    </para>
  </sect1>
</preface>

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