I first started working on the Scratchapixel book project at the end of 2025. After writing the first three chapters, I put the project on hold. At the time, I wasn't sure how I would realistically be able to take it to completion.
Everything changed in the spring of 2026, when someone generously offered to help cover the upfront printing costs for the first 200 copies of the book. That commitment gave me the motivation—and the challenge—to finally bring the project to life.
Since then, I've picked up where I left off and have now completed roughly half of the manuscript.
As I worked on the table of contents, I realised the original book would have exceeded one thousand pages. Writing that amount of material while also producing all the illustrations would simply have taken too long.
Instead, I decided to split the project into a series of books, each around 250 pages long. Looking back, I think this is actually a much better solution.
The writing is progressing steadily. My goal is to complete the manuscript for Volume I before the end of the summer.
After that comes editing, illustrations, page layout, proofreading and preparation for printing. If everything goes according to plan, I'm confident Volume I will be ready before the end of 2026.
I'd like to thank everyone who has already expressed an interest in the project by leaving their email address. Your encouragement has been a tremendous source of motivation.
I'll be getting in touch with everyone soon, and I also plan to reopen the registration form so that more people can follow the project's progress.
Thank you for your patience and your support.
Jean-Colas