[FM Discuss] Press release: CiviCRM - the book before the software

[Michael McAndrew]

Hello people,

Here's a press release about the launch of the CiviCRM a comprehensive
guide.  We'd be really happy if you can distribute this amongst your
networks / press contacts.

Thanks,
Michael

---

*Press release*

31 May 2010

SAN FRANCISCO


*CiviCRM - the book before the software*

'CiviCRM: a comprehensive guide', written for end-users, administrators and
developers, was launched today. CiviCRM is open source constituent
relationship management software designed for non-profit, political and
advocacy organizations.

The book was released before the scheduled release of version 3.2 of
CiviCRM.  This is quite unprecedented in the open source world, which is
often criticized for its lack of documentation. The book offers complete
coverage of CiviCRM functionality. It was written during an intensive four
day 'book sprint', with the best and brightest from the CiviCRM community.
Editorial assistance, Book Sprint Facilitation and infrastructure was
provided by FLOSS Manuals. The final product is a comprehensive book
available for viewing online, as an eBook or in hard copy.

Adam Hyde, founder of FLOSS Manuals stressed, "It's quite unprecedented for
an open source project to publish complete documentation before the release
of a new version of the software. This shows that the book sprint model is a
sustainable way to produce timely and up to date documentation for an open
source project."  He continued, "A diverse group of people from the CiviCRM
community participated in facilitated discussions and writing. At the end of
the sprint, out popped a book."

Dave Greenberg, project manager at CiviCRM said, "the project places a high
value on complete and useful documentation. It's crucial in increasing the
uptake of the software."

*Contact*

Dave Greenberg, dave at civicrm.org, + 1 415 8464717
Adam Hyde, adam at flossmanuals.net, + 49 177 4935122

*Background*

Book Sprints are an innovative format based on Code Sprints but with the
focus on producing documentation instead of code. A sprint brings together a
group of writers, editors, and perhaps an artist and production specialist,
to go from outline to published book in five days.

CiviCRM is an open source CRM designed for non profit, political and
advocacy organisations.  v3.2 is it's 15th major release in 5 years.

'CiviCRM: a comprenshive guide' builds on the previous book 'Understanding
CiviCRM: a guide for non profits' also written in 2009 during a similar book
sprint.  It is the largest book hosted at FLOSS Manuals.

Both CiviCRM book sprints were funded by grants from Open Society
Institute.  The proceeds of the book will go to Social Source Foundation,
the non-profit organization that funds CiviCRM.

*More info*

http://en.FLOSS Manuals.net/CiviCRM - online version of CiviCRM: a
comprehensive guide
http://civicrm.org - CiviCRM project
http://en.FLOSS Manuals.net/about - More about FLOSS Manuals
http://www.lulu.com/product/item/civicrm/11059759 - Print on demand version
of CiviCRM: a comprehensive guide.
http://www.soros.org/ - Open Society Institute funded the book sprints
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.flossmanuals.net/pipermail/discuss-flossmanuals.net/attachments/20100531/5fc696f1/attachment.htm>