[FM Discuss] what is book

[adam hyde]

just a quickie before i get some lunch...

this repository has some interesting research on open source economics :
http://opensource.mit.edu/

the repository is maintained by Mako Hill.

adam




On Sun, 2008-11-02 at 12:10 -0800, Edward Cherlin wrote:
> On Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 11:52 AM, Luke Faraone <luke at laptop.org> wrote:
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 14:49, adam hyde <adam at flossmanuals.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> hi,
> >>
> >>
> >> on reflection, i think it would be great to produce a 'what is free
> >> software' manual...i really had the impression that many people at
> >> DocTrain were wary of it just because they didn't know what it was. we
> >> might be able to get events like DocTrain (etc) to buy some copies to
> >> give away to participants...
> >>
> >> anyone feel like taking the lead to put a manual like this together?
> 
> I will contribute, but I have too much going on to take on the whole
> project. I can certainly recruit writers, discuss tools, and do other
> tasks that don't require too much time.
> 
> > Well, I'm not sure whether we need to write one.
> >
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software seems to be fairly comprehensive
> > and well written. (but GFDL'd)
> 
> Tolerably well-written, but by no means comprehensive. We need to
> explain the practical benefits not only of the Free Software process
> and software, but open standards and open content of all kinds, and
> also the disadvantages of proprietary software, including "Security by
> Obscurity". The biggest issue is the conflict between the private
> interests of corporations that make money selling these products, and
> the public interest in having the widest possible dissemination of
> software and content.
> 
> As is ever the case, in order to get usable answers you first have to
> ask relevant questions.
> 
> What is software worth? When you look at the first-order economic
> effects of software, proprietary software adds directly to the usual
> GDP measure, and Free Software seems to add nothing. When you look at
> the second order of effects, that is, what the software is used for,
> and what value it creates in use, the answer is that Free Software
> contributes value that dwarfs the proprietary market. As you look at
> further effects, the value of Free Software increases at each step as
> far as the eye can see or the mind imagine. I know of no economists
> who take this issue seriously, and no published research on the
> matter. If anyone knows of any, please send contact information and
> links.
> 
> Second question: What is the target audience? User classes include
> 
> Software developers
> Content authors (textbooks, fiction, non-fiction, music, video...)
> Corporate IT management
> Home users
> Education
> Global development
> Government agencies
> Politicians
> 
> It also makes a difference what countries we are targeting, and how
> widely we want to get our work translated. The relative effects are
> quite different in different economic environments.
> 
> > -lf
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Discuss mailing list
> > Discuss at lists.flossmanuals.net
> > http://lists.flossmanuals.net/listinfo.cgi/discuss-flossmanuals.net
> 
-- 
Adam Hyde
Founder FLOSS Manuals
http://www.flossmanuals.net