Announcing - document collection project

Announcing - document collection project

[Timothy D. Witham]

   In an email conversation with Alan Cox and Andrew Morton I was
asked if OSDL could create a repository for old non-NDA manuals.

   I agreed that this sort of old copyrighted but never to be reprinted
documentation needs a home and even thought some said it was
a monster it looked like a nice little bunny to me so .....

   I've setup a little web site and have a file cabinet all ready to go.

http://developer.osdl.org/dev/opendoc/index.html

   I also decided that as long as I had to keep a list of hard copy
documentation in the drawer I might as well add links to 
companies providing  documentation and links to any
groups or standards.  So if you have favorite links or your
company provides developer information for open source
folks please send the link information  to opendoc@lists.osdl.org.

  If you have an old non-NDA manual for something that you
aren't the maintainer and no longer want the responsibility
of keeping coffee or pet stains off of it.  Then please follow 
the instructions under "Submitting Hardcopy".

  As for any other comments I welcome them.  Not set on the
anything just trying to provide a service here.

Tim

-- 
Timothy D. Witham - Chief Technology Officer - wookie@osdl.org
Open Source Development Lab Inc - A non-profit corporation
12725 SW Millikan Way - Suite 400 - Beaverton OR, 97005
(503)-626-2455 x11 (office)    (503)-702-2871     (cell)
(503)-626-2436     (fax)

Re: Announcing - document collection project

[Dave Jones]

On Wed, Dec 01, 2004 at 09:01:30AM -0800, Timothy D. Witham wrote:

 >    In an email conversation with Alan Cox and Andrew Morton I was
 > asked if OSDL could create a repository for old non-NDA manuals.
 > 
 >    I agreed that this sort of old copyrighted but never to be reprinted
 > documentation needs a home and even thought some said it was
 > a monster it looked like a nice little bunny to me so .....

Thanks, this has the makings of something really useful.

One comment.  Links to external documentation (like the AGP
reference for eg) has the potential to 'disappear', making
this resource no better than a collection of bookmarks.

A true repository would have the actual documents, though
I understand this may mean talking with the copyright holder(s).

		Dave

Re: Announcing - document collection project

[Timothy D. Witham]

On Wed, 2004-12-01 at 12:08 -0500, Dave Jones wrote:
> On Wed, Dec 01, 2004 at 09:01:30AM -0800, Timothy D. Witham wrote:
> 
>  >    In an email conversation with Alan Cox and Andrew Morton I was
>  > asked if OSDL could create a repository for old non-NDA manuals.
>  > 
>  >    I agreed that this sort of old copyrighted but never to be reprinted
>  > documentation needs a home and even thought some said it was
>  > a monster it looked like a nice little bunny to me so .....
> 
> Thanks, this has the makings of something really useful.
> 
> One comment.  Links to external documentation (like the AGP
> reference for eg) has the potential to 'disappear', making
> this resource no better than a collection of bookmarks.
> 
> A true repository would have the actual documents, though
> I understand this may mean talking with the copyright holder(s).
> 
    I'm OK with that - it would of course depend upon the
license from the copyright holder.  But I'm open.

> 		Dave
-- 
Timothy D. Witham - Chief Technology Officer - wookie@osdl.org
Open Source Development Lab Inc - A non-profit corporation
12725 SW Millikan Way - Suite 400 - Beaverton OR, 97005
(503)-906-1911  (office)    (503)-702-2871   (cell)
(503)-626-2436  (fax)

Re: Announcing - document collection project

[Jeff Garzik]

Timothy D. Witham wrote:
> On Wed, 2004-12-01 at 12:08 -0500, Dave Jones wrote:
> 
>>On Wed, Dec 01, 2004 at 09:01:30AM -0800, Timothy D. Witham wrote:
>>
>> >    In an email conversation with Alan Cox and Andrew Morton I was
>> > asked if OSDL could create a repository for old non-NDA manuals.
>> > 
>> >    I agreed that this sort of old copyrighted but never to be reprinted
>> > documentation needs a home and even thought some said it was
>> > a monster it looked like a nice little bunny to me so .....
>>
>>Thanks, this has the makings of something really useful.
>>
>>One comment.  Links to external documentation (like the AGP
>>reference for eg) has the potential to 'disappear', making
>>this resource no better than a collection of bookmarks.
>>
>>A true repository would have the actual documents, though
>>I understand this may mean talking with the copyright holder(s).
>>
> 
>     I'm OK with that - it would of course depend upon the
> license from the copyright holder.  But I'm open.

I agree this document repository has significant potential, but I also 
agree with Dave:  from my own direct experience, documents DO disappear.

The ALSA project routinely asks vendors if the hardware manual can be 
mirrored on their FTP site, and I have been doing the same for network 
and ATA drivers:

	http://gkernel.sourceforge.net/specs/

Though I cannot say that all the people who gave me permission to mirror 
the site are still around, to give permission to push these specs to ODSL.

	Jeff