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New Debian book coming out

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the debian-the-novel dept.

El Jefe writes "Just saw on the Debian news site that a new debian book is coming out, including a CD. The whole thing will be GPL'd, btw. "

6 of 22 comments (clear)

  1. The whole book is GPL'd? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

    Does that mean the source the book is produced from (not just a prettified HTML version) is on the CD?

    Not just a Postscript image, either. That's "Object Code." It's gotta be TeX (unless, frightful thought, closed-source means were used to produce the book).

    I'm assuming the source for the software that runs the printing press is also present, along with that for the binding machine and the paper mill?

    (and of course the source code for the software used to produce the CD-ROM, and a raw image of the CD-ROM on tape (paper tape) and the source code for the machinery in the mine, the foundry, etc. that produced the metal used to produce the machinery that produced the tape)

  2. Yes, thank you New Riders by Gleef · · Score: 2

    New Riders Publishing has become enlightened about the whole Free Documentation thing. They've already published two books under Free licenses, and they seem ready to do more. AFAIK, they are still giving the authors (or Debian in this case) royalties on the book sales.

    --

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    Open mind, insert foot.
  3. Further Details: Yes, it's GPL'd! by John+Goerzen · · Score: 4
    We are extremely pleased to have had this opportunity to work with such a major publishing firm (MCP/New Riders) on a project of such importance with a Free license such as this. Our ideals are indeed spreading, and this can only be a Good Thing.

    I also want to say a big thank-you to New Riders Publishing for their extremely friendly stance on this book with regard to the Free Software movement. The book is licensed entirely under the GPL; such is specified not only in the book also by contract. Ossama and I will be publishing the LaTeX and EPS sources as well as a HTML version online within a week or two -- possibly sooner, depending on how the logistics are worked out.

    The copyright on the book is assigned to Software in the Public Interest, Debian's parent organization.

    There seem to be some rather strange comments in this area from people that do not quite understand the GPL. The entire source code will be available online; GPL does not require the source code to be available on CD-ROM. Yes, this does mean LaTeX and EPS files.

    A portion of the sale of each book will go to the FSF, and Mr. Othman and myself will, of course, get some royalties as well.

    For those of you wishing to find more details, you may refer to my post to debian-devel.

    The book does include a CD-ROM of Debian. The book should be appearing in bookstores in about three weeks; online bookstores like Amazon, B&N, and Borders should be accepting pre-orders already for those interested.

    Thanks, John Goerzen

  4. Re:RMS says the GPL is not appropriate for books by JoeBuck · · Score: 2

    I've known RMS for years and because of my involvement with egcs/gcc, have exchanged tons of emails and had face-to-face discussions. I know what his position is.

    Your remark claiming that the gcc manual copyright "sounds so much like a paper-published version of the GPL" suggests that you have not read the GPL.

    Yes, RMS encourages copylefted documentation, but he never uses the GPL for that purpose and tells others the same thing. The FSF has never GPLed a manual. You are confused.

    RMS has stressed the importance of free manuals that grant permission to others to modify the manuals as the software they describe is modified. The copyright notice must state this. But that is done with explicit text, and the terms of the GPL that clearly apply to programs should not be used.

  5. Abuse by schporto · · Score: 2

    I wonder if someone will abuse this. If its GPL'd then I can take it, modify it, and resell it. Actually I don't even need to modify it. Any publisher can now sell this book. And get into a price war with the real publsihers esp cuz they won't need to pay any royalties. Or I could just download it burn it onto a CD and sell it on cheap bytes. Again no royalties.
    I am not suggesting this is a good idea, or that someone should do this. Merely that they can.
    On the flip side I can now take this book and modify it so it fits with what I actually have at my site. So say I put files in X instead of Y I can change it to reflect this. I can also add documentation about other things I have installed. And remove things that I don't, instead of telling users to "Oh just ignore that seection".
    Translation - Good idea, I just hope nobody abuses it.
    -cpd

  6. Absolutely! by invenustus · · Score: 2

    God just announced that He is going to open-source the DNA of the trees that were cut down to produce the book.

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    grep -ri 'should work' /usr/src/linux | wc -l