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.
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.
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.
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.
[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.
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.
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.
Slashdot Mirror
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.
Thanks
Bruce
Bruce Perens.
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.
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.
--
There are only "binaries" on that page :)
*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".
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.
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.