Re: Composing a programming guide for maxima

> 1) Basic introduction to a .mac file (cos i didn't know how to do it
> when i started)

I would start with interactive use, not batch files.

> 2) Structures
>     BLOCKs, Expressions, loops, constraints

A very important topic is the use of symbols *both* as mathematical
variables *and* as programming variables.  This is a common stumbling
block in working with Maxima programming.

What do you mean by constraints?  Assertions?

You should probably have a section on working with the various Maxima
data types, notably:

   -- symbols
   -- general symbolic expressions (part, inpart, op, etc.)
   -- lists and matrices
   -- arrays (though I would mostly suggest that users avoid them)
   -- numbers

> 5) Lisp and it's uses within Maxima (from the programming areas

I don't think this belongs in an introduction to Maxima programming. 
I think it is a completely separate topic.

> 6) Advanced topics

I think the hardest part is getting the basics right.

     -s