Tangent: I really thought Bruce Eckel's strategy for writing would become the norm. Especially for technical topics. Especially with publishers like O'Reilly.

Tangent: I really thought Bruce Eckel's strategy for writing would become the norm. Especially for technical topics. Especially with publishers like O'Reilly. (You may recall Eckel's Thinking in Java and Thinking in C++.) Eckel wrote in public, released early drafts, actively sought and incorporated feedback and errata. As a former author of shareware, this strategy resonated with me. As an author yourself, any thoughts on why Eckel's strategy didn't catch on? eg Too much effort, publishers wouldn't buy-in, just a weird idea...? FWIW, I consumed those drafts asap, and provided (very) modest feedback, so I was heavily emotionally invested in Eckel's success. Once available in paper, I bought many copies; at least 5 alone as gifts.