[Texmacs-dev] Free Software needs Free Documentation

[martin-kemp]

> From: Félix Faisant <felix.faisant@u-psud.fr>
> To: martin-kemp@brusseler.com
> Subject: Re: [Texmacs-dev] Free Software needs Free Documentation
> Date: 19/06/2021 19:30:29 Europe/Paris

> > On Sat, 2021-06-19 at 19:00 +0200, martin-kemp@brusseler.com wrote:
> > 
> > The biggest deficiency in texmacs is not in the software - it is
> > the lack of good free manuals. Many programs do not come with
> > full manuals.  Documentation is an essential part of any software
> > package.  When an important free software package does not come
> > with a free manual, it is a major problems. We have many such
> > gaps today.

> TeXmacs /does/ come with a free documentation which is quite complete
> and detailed, and is well enough for the beginner

> If you want a more complete documentation, contribute yourself
> rather than sending angry messages on a public mailing list.

On the contrary, it seems more to me that many can't stand the idea of being

challenged.

> > It is unfortunate to see a Directeur de Recherche of CNRS and the
> > main developer of the Gnu TeXmacs Software System, writes a guide
> > on mastering the secrets and latest versions of Gnu TeXmacs.
> > Even worse, the book is written in english, yet the terms of sale
> > are given in french.
> > 
> > And with the hefty price of 50 Euros, who is he supposed to be
> > kidding.  Because many people are not laughing or pleased - to
> > say the least.

> Please do not speak for everyone. 50€ is not very much for this
> amount of work, and Joris definitively deserve to have some
> financial support. And again, this book is not at all needed to

> use most of TeXmacs.

He should include that when applying for funds. 

> > Why is this? The authors of good manuals write them for
> > publishers, which published them with restrictive terms - no
> > copying, no modification, source files not available - which
> > maken them non-free, thus excluded them from the Free World.
> > 
> > And given that writing good English is a rare skill among
> > programmers, we can ill afford to lose manuals this way.

> It is most probable that one day, the book itself will be
> released free. See this book as way for Joris to have some
> support.

A CNRS Director of Research with salaries ranging 72,435 Euros

to 115,357 Euros. 

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