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Open Sources is Open Sourced

chrisd writes "The book Open Sources has been opensourced, and is available here. with a mirror available here. (with a tarball) Enjoy! " I haven't had a chance to read this book yet, but I will now.

14 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. Like I've said.. by Jon+Abbott · · Score: 2

    Like I've said before, this is only the beginning. We need mathematics texts (done by people who want to teach others based on that merit alone), etc. etc.. It's only logical that the "open source" spirit will spread into areas that need it. Hopefully, corporations won't try to stamp out the idea altogether (i.e. RIAA and MP3s)..

  2. No, not Open Source. by Paul+Crowley · · Score: 2

    The book is online, but the copyrights are in many cases still "All Rights Reserved".

    *sigh*
    --

    1. Re:No, not Open Source. by Zachary+Kessin · · Score: 2

      Actually RMS Talks about this, In his essay he says that essays (like the one he wrote or this one) Should not be under the GPL as they represend the someone's Opionion.

      The post is to express what I think and if you take it and "Improve" it you may end up with something that I don't at all like.

      --
      Erlang Developer and podcaster
    2. Re:No, not Open Source. by hasse · · Score: 3
      Too bad. You can't print it and sell it then. You can still read it for FREE though.

      *sigh*

      Open source fanatics are doing a lot of damage. It's hard to take people serious when the message is "open source or crap".

  3. Do it for love... by sterwill · · Score: 3
    Damn short list, isn't it (other than some old religious texts, I sure can't think of any)
    Perhaps thinking is not your strong point. Few musicians make music their parents informed them at an early age that it would be a "good business move." If you know the music industry, you know just how ludicrous such a statement would be. Few programmers started programming because it pays better than emptying trash cans. Even in the world of professional sports, athletes started playing for enjoyment. A fourth-grader doesn't pick up a basketball and think, "I'd rather be reading, but my financial planner advises basketball is a sound investment in my future, for reasons both monetary and selfish. I shall now hone my skills for the professional leagues."

    People do things because they like them, and sometimes they do things they don't like, but the love of a person, place, or thing is the motivation behind great works.

  4. Maybe... by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 5
    My chapter was Open Source before, by the OSD, not by O'Reilly's definition, whatever that is. So was ESR's and RMS. I don't know about the others, but O'Reilly doesn't own the copyrights, the authors do.


    Thanks


    Bruce

  5. GAC! by Pyro+P · · Score: 4

    Okay, who here's actually read the book? If you've read it, you should know that all it really is is the same essays, rants, and overviews by open/free/blah software programmers/figureheads/zealots/blahs that we've already heard before (like ESR's A Brief History of Hackerdom, Bruce Peren's The Open Source Definition, that really cool Larry Wall thing that i can't remember the name of). The open sourcing of this book is wholly redundant, since afaik all the content of this book was already free/open/blah.

    --
    If 90% of everything isn't crap, your standards are too high.
  6. [humor] Why read the book? by Signal+11 · · Score: 3

    Why read the book? If it's been open sourced, in 2 months most of the book will have been rewritten, and there won't be any typos...

    On the downside, there will be no installation instructions - and the system requirements are ambigious: "must know how to read".. but doesn't specify a language.. I guess you'd better read the source to keep it from defaulting to Espaniol.

    :)

    --

  7. Nope -- same reason as you'd want ... by Misha · · Score: 2

    "Why should I buy another O'Reilly book when they'll be put on the web a short time later?"

    Same reason you might want to own the printed version of JARGON.TXT from MIT press (I know that it is called something else but I think JARGON.TXT is a much better name). It is fun, plus it does not go away when I reformat, and I can put it into my backpack instead of taking a laptop with me. The point is : If you think it is a worthwhile book, don't hesitate to buy it. You may never know when you will want to read it again. And you will definitely not regret buying it if the book is that good. From the sample chapters that appeared a few months ago, I'd say that the book really is great.

    p.s. myself, I am looking forward to printing out the web version though 8) just because I like the smell of printer ink, the heat the pages have when they come out of the printer, and the soft cover made out of a paper folder. I wish my CLR was like that. 8)

    --



    I was thinking of how to intentionally fail my drug test... It would make a good memoir story someday.
  8. Re:Love by roberte · · Score: 2

    Actually I know several people who shovel shit for love. They raise horses and make no money on them. They enjoy the horses, (and hardly ever ride them)and that is enough of a reason to do it.

  9. Where is the source code? by InvisibleCraterFunk · · Score: 3

    There are only "binaries" on that page :)

  10. Love by Wah · · Score: 2

    It's a simple fact. Those that do things for love do thing better than those that do it for money. A simple reason why Open Source will eventually rule all and money will one day be seen as a passing fancy.


    first post

    --
    +&x
  11. The next step. by amper · · Score: 3

    This book is possibly the single most valuable collection of ideas about open source and free software that has ever been written, and it comes at a point in history that could not be more opportune.

    I admit to some small measure of chagrin, having purchased the paper version a couple of weeks ago, at finding the book available on-line. Downloading the book and printing it out on my own equipment would have enabled me to leverage the non-insubstantial investments I have made in coputing hardware, Internet access, printing equipment, toner, paper, and knowledge.

    I would have been far less disappointed had ORA released the on-line version at the same time as the printed version. This would have allowed those of us who wished to download the book, while still allowing the printed version to reach the hands of those who have neither the time nor willingness to seek out an on-line book on a subject such as this, a group of people who we in these communities need so desperately to read this work, namely, business managers.

    The danger of a work like this, however, is that it will be seen as the ultimate source of thought concerning open source and free software and business practices. I propose that OPA consider a relaunch of this book as a more truly open source project.

    ORA should create a Slashdot-like WWW site where public opinions about open source and free software and business practices may be discussed and concentrated. We in these communities should rally behind such a project. As the site matures, ORA can take extracts from the site as material for publishing new versions of the book in printed form. The subjects covered in this book are not the sort that can remain in static form. We must all have the chance to respond to the authors of the included works and the chance to have our opinions included alongside in a forum of like size.

    Already we have seen drastic changes in the open-source/free landscape. One of the prime examples of this is the release of significant portions of the source code of previously proprietary software by Apple Computer under the Apple Public Source License and the resulting debate that led to the changes Apple made to the APSL to accomodate the community. This story should be the first new chapter in Version 2 of Open Sources.

    The word *must* be spread, and it must be done in a definitive fashion by an organization that is well-respected by both the community and those outside the community. Allow me to be the first to offer my services for the mantenance of this project.

  12. The open source movement Expands... by Belkheldar · · Score: 3

    Living in Australia means that sometimes you have to wait for some things. In this case it was the book OpenSources. Unless I chose to purchase it over Amazon.com (or the other e-book stores) I would have had to wait until the end of May or early April. I just downloaded it and will read by this time tomorrow.... and when it comes out over here I will buy it.