Subject:
Proposed modification of Manifesto. Do we agree?
From:
David Lawyer ####@####.####
Date:
31 Oct 2005 06:38:29 -0000
Message-Id: <20051031063859.GA14500@lafn.org>
This is a proposal to modify only the first section of the LDP
Manifesto (the Overview section). But it's the most important part
since it describes our goals and how we are organized. This draft is
not significantly modifying any basic policies or purposes, but it's
mainly making the manifesto conform to the current status of LDP.
However, it gives more emphasis to distribution of docs. via the
Internet which was not well established when the original Manifesto
was written in 1993. It also makes it clear that LDP does not
normally document various Linux applications and utilities which come
with their own documentation.
If you would like to look at the earliest LDP Manifesto that I can
find on the Internet (from early 1993), go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/docs/ldpResearch/ldp-mails-public/ldp-1993-190
On Wed, Oct 05, 2005 at 03:47:41PM -0700, David Lawyer wrote:
[snip]
> Last night I looked at what I had drafted in 2001 for the "Overview"
> part of the Manifesto. I then edited it a little to reflect the
> current situation. My former draft stated that most major
> distributions distribute LDP documents. This may no longer be true
> so I deleted it. Also, I deleted the part about our documents being
> printed in books. It's true that a few of our docs are also printed
> as books but I haven't seen any books recently that contain
> collections of HOWTOs, etc.
>
From my previous draft, I've changed one sentence per suggestion from
Stein Gjoen and also made a few other minor changes. What do people
think of it now? I've retained LDP since there is some support for
continuing to use this name (but I don't know if there's consensus on
this). The 2001 draft classified the integration of Linux
documentation an additional goal (and not the primary goal) although a
broad interpretation of the primary goal would include such
integration. It's something that LDP hasn't yet done although a start
was made at one time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Draft of revised Overview section of "The Linux
Documentation Project (LDP) Manifesto" by David S.
Lawyer, 2001, with minor changes Oct. 2005
1. OVERVIEW
OLD The Linux Documentation Project is working on developing free, high
OLD quality documentation for the GNU/Linux operating system. The overall
OLD goal of the LDP is to collaborate in all of the issues of Linux
OLD documentation. This includes the creation of "HOWTOs" and "Guides". We
OLD hope to establish a system of documentation for Linux that will be
OLD easy to use and search. This includes the integration of the manual
OLD pages, info docs, HOWTOs, and other documents.
The goal of the Linux Documentation Project (LDP) is to create and
distribute the canonical set of free, high quality GNU/Linux
documentation. While GNU/Linux distributions, desktops, applications
and utilities may come with their own documentation, LDP documentation
fills in the numerous gaps.
The hundreds of existing LDP documents, such as HOWTOs and Guides,
present both overviews and details of: the GNU/Linux Operating System,
System Administration, Hardware, Networks, Servers, GUIs, Programming,
Language Support, etc. Not every important topic is currently covered
so LDP is seeking new authors to fill in the gaps.
{Deleted from my previous draft: In spite of the large number of
documents, much more remains to be done and some areas are not
adequately covered.}
OLD LDP's goal is to create the canonical set of free Linux documentation.
OLD While online (and downloadable) documentation can be frequently
OLD updated in order to stay on top of the many changes in the Linux
OLD world, we also like to see the same docs included on CDs and printed
OLD in books. If you are interested in publishing any of the LDP works,
OLD see the section "[7]Publishing LDP Documents", below.
An additional goal is to collaborate on all of the issues of GNU/Linux
documentation. We hope to establish a system of documentation that is
easy to use and search. This includes the integration of manual pages,
info documents, HOWTOs, etc.
We freely distribute our documents via the Internet. Some major
distributions of Linux include them on CDs. If you are interested in
print publishing any of the LDP works, see the section "Publishing LDP
Documents" below.
{no change in last paragraph}
OLD The LDP is essentially a loose team of [8]volunteers with minimal
OLD central organization. Anyone who would like to help is welcome to join
OLD in this effort. We feel that working together informally and
OLD discussing projects on our mailing lists is the best way to go. When
OLD we disagree on things, we try to reason with each other until we reach
OLD an informed consensus.
The LDP is essentially a loose team of volunteers with a minimal
central organization. Anyone who would like to help is welcome to join
in this effort. We feel that working together informally and
discussing projects on our mailing lists is the best way to go. When
we disagree on things, we try to reason with each other until we reach
an informed consensus.
