Programming Gems

Guidelines for authors

During the second phase, the editors will read your article and possibly send you comments and ask for a revised version. We expect that this phase will last until 01 Sep 2007.

• The full text corresponding to the selected abstract should be sent to us in PDF or plain text at gems@lua.org by 01 Jun 2007. Please quote the number of your abstract in any correspondence about it.
• The full text should contain around 3000 words or 10 pages, but these are not strict limits. The important thing is to get your point across clearly.
• You may include pictures and diagrams as needed. Make sure they print well in black and white, because we won't be able to print color pages.
• There is no need to include full code in the text. We plan to setup a repository for Gem code in lua.org. However, you can (and perhaps should) include pieces of the code in the text if you refer to them or discuss them in the text. In particular, if you use a literate programming approach, then of course the full code (or most of it) will be in the text. In any case, it is important that your article be self-contained.
• The full text should be in final form but do not worry about formatting right now; we'll work on that near publication. Concentrate now on the contents of your gem. Try to motivate the reader and be as clear as possible. Include examples. For some ideas on how to go about this, see the Lua Technical Note 0.
• In the third and last phase we will typeset the book. We intend to use LaTeX for typesetting and so it would be best if you used LaTeX as well, but we will also accept HTML or even plain text. In all cases, try to write the simplest LaTeX or HTML. Detailed instructions about this will be posted here in due time.
• We will ask that you license non-exclusive rights on your contribution to us. You will retain full copyright of your work. Each gem will contain the following notice on its first page: "Copyright © 2007 authors name here. Used by permission." Details about this will be posted here and sent to you in due time.

Please check the gems page periodically for any announcements. We look forward to reading your gem.