Hello, I just went to the Desmos Classroom Computation Layer Documentation page (Computation Layer Documentation) and right out of the chute, the document contains an error. It asks to add a Text Input and there is none. So, I added a Note. Then, it asked me to use an “initialText” sink and there was none. I found one called “content.” Is there updated Computation Layer Documentation somewhere?
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Apologies! What was formerly a “text box” is called a “Free Response”. It has more functionality than the original, including audio and media, which likely drove the name change. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. It could probably use a good audit.
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I kinda assumed that computation layer was basically abandonware now that Amplify is mainly focussed on producing curriculum in-house, with seemingly little focus on improving activity builder or computation layer. But I’m pleased to hear that someone is monitoring this forum at least!
On the contrary, it’s my opinion that there have been more features released due to increased prioritization of feedback coming from teachers using the curriculum. We’ve seen the Geometry component, Companion Mode, Projector Mode, and Sketch Everywhere all added to Activity Builder’s Desmos Labs since the merger, as well as the introduction of lists to CL and the ability to copy and paste individual components. The CL team has grown significantly in the past year. We are coding daily and feel perhaps more pain at times than other users. As such, we are often passing suggestions for improvements and additional features, and iterating how to better support the external community.
I also know there have been requests on the forum you’re simply not going to see because they don’t align with Desmos’ core values, which Amplify maintains. (Read as “Sorry, no string methods.” 
). We appreciate your concerns and your extended contribution to this forum. Keep them coming! I myself am on here daily, missing only the occasional comment. Criticisms and concerns only help us grow.
Thanks Daniel for weighing in! I agree that there have been features added on the side of teachers running Desmos/Amplify Activities but my comment was intended primarily to be about Computation Layer (i.e. the programming/glue that allows activity authors to make better activities) and to some extent about the ergonomics of writing activities.
The ability to copy and paste individual components has been excellent and at least reduces the amount of typing of CL code, although it also means that any improvement to be made in one section of code is more likely to be scattered across multiple screens and multiple activities (as opposed to a model where code is stored separately in libraries and then an improvement in one place would affect all the components calling the given function/s).
I had forgotten that those list functions were added to Computation Layer (List Functions in CL) although I would really like to see these, and patterns, properly documented.
Maybe the title of abandonware is inaccurate in hindsight, and in fact it’s mainly the fact that the documentation is in need of refreshing. However, I had also assumed the underlying language would evolve to be more like a fully fledged declarative language, and it appears that isn’t the direction.
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