[FM Discuss] what is book

[Seth Woodworth]

Mako is here in boston if you want to try to recruit his help on the project.

On Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 3:16 PM, adam hyde <adam at flossmanuals.net> wrote:
> 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
>> >
>> >
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>>
> --
> Adam Hyde
> Founder FLOSS Manuals
> http://www.flossmanuals.net
>
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