What about helpful tools like installers, map editors?

http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page
http://www.mapeditor.org/
http://www.java-gaming.org/topics/3d-sound-engine/20271/view.html

Ooooh thanks Riven and Appel! Could you make this thread sticky? I don't have any more bookmarking room

Nice! now I can save up some questions~

Is it fair to assume TableLayout hasn't maturized yet, thus it might be good to add an 'incubator' section?

The current state is that the core of the layout algorithm is pretty solid. The implementations for each framework are in flux, but the last couple days have been productive and I'm really liking the current approach. Last night I added syntax highlighting and on the fly compilation and error underlining to the editor. The lib has 2 users already. It has proven very useful so far but is only 2 months old, so I wouldn't mind if it was in an "incubator" section.

What's the current thinking on bringing back a wiki?  I've found myself wanting to throw together some intro material in several subjects...not that this means that I'd actually ever get around to doing it.

Some stuff off the top of my head:
The Matrix Cookbook
The Handbook of Mathematical Functions
Principles of Digital Image Synthesis

Speaking as a hypocrite who never contributed to the wiki, I do think that having some 'official' JGO tutorials (in particular, game loop for applet, game loop for application, fixed time steps vs variable time steps, why multiple threads are not for newbies, how to read the keyboard correctly) would've made quick work of answering a lot of the newbie questions that have cropped up recently.

Simon

I fully agree. I created http://wiki.games4j.com/ basically for that purpose, not long before the JGO wiki came online. Since the wiki appeared on JGO I didn't do much about it, and used it more as a personal notepad. It does however address some of the things that dishmoth brought up and more, and since the JGO wiki isn't on it's way back soon, then it could be worth doing more with it.

It would obviously be better if it was integrated but some sticky post on linking to it or in some way try to guide n00bs over there before posting a question could be good.

The wiki is currently crazily wide open, so anyone is welcome to add stuff (but you are welcome to create an account as well). I have had 2 spam posts so far, so I will keep it open until it becomes a problem. Though getting new valid content flowing into the Wiki is tricky.

It's not that we'll add anything to the wiki, it's knowing that if we wanted to, we could.

I noticed that there are some member web sites that are not valid. like http://www.scottshaver2000.com/. Is there a way to weed these defunct sites out?

Only showing sites for members who have posted in the last twelve months would probably do the trick.  (But I imagine Riven's thought of that already, so maybe it's not possible for some reason.)

I demand our blog to be linked to on that site! (http://www.badlogicgames.com). It's useless and ugly! It fits well!

Can I ask something, on "Developing Games on Java" there is text "Get the book ... Or, buy direct from the publisher". Is the book free to download (I assume "or" means that buying is second option)? if yes, where is the link? if no, why did he use "or" word to make me confused?