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Free Software Needs Free Documentation</title><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.74.0" /><meta name="keywords" content=" ISO C++ , library " /><link rel="home" href="../spine.html" title="The GNU C++ Library Documentation" /><link rel="up" href="spine.html" title="The GNU C++ Library" /><link rel="prev" href="backwards.html" title="Backwards Compatibility" /><link rel="next" href="appendix_gpl.html" title="Appendix D. GNU General Public License version 3" /></head><body><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">Appendix C. - Free Software Needs Free Documentation - -</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="backwards.html">Prev</a> </td><th width="60%" align="center">The GNU C++ Library</th><td width="20%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="appendix_gpl.html">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr /></div><div class="appendix" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title"><a id="appendix.free"></a>Appendix C. - Free Software Needs Free Documentation - <a id="id511835" class="indexterm"></a> -</h2></div></div></div><p> -The biggest deficiency in free operating systems is not in the -software--it is the lack of good free manuals that we can include in -these systems. Many of our most important 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, that is a major gap. We have many such gaps today. -</p><p> -Once upon a time, many years ago, I thought I would learn Perl. I got -a copy of a free manual, but I found it hard to read. When I asked -Perl users about alternatives, they told me that there were better -introductory manuals--but those were not free. -</p><p> -Why was this? The authors of the good manuals had written them for -O'Reilly Associates, which published them with restrictive terms--no -copying, no modification, source files not available--which exclude -them from the free software community. -</p><p> -That wasn't the first time this sort of thing has happened, and (to -our community's great loss) it was far from the last. Proprietary -manual publishers have enticed a great many authors to restrict their -manuals since then. Many times I have heard a GNU user eagerly tell -me about a manual that he is writing, with which he expects to help -the GNU project--and then had my hopes dashed, as he proceeded to -explain that he had signed a contract with a publisher that would -restrict it so that we cannot use it. -</p><p> -Given that writing good English is a rare skill among programmers, we -can ill afford to lose manuals this way. -</p><p> - Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, -not price. The problem with these manuals was not that O'Reilly -Associates charged a price for printed copies--that in itself is fine. -(The Free Software Foundation <a class="ulink" href="http://www.gnu.org/doc/doc.html" target="_top">sells printed copies</a> of -free GNU manuals, too.) But GNU manuals are available in source code -form, while these manuals are available only on paper. GNU manuals -come with permission to copy and modify; the Perl manuals do not. -These restrictions are the problems. -</p><p> -The criterion for a free manual is pretty much the same as for free -software: it is a matter of giving all users certain freedoms. -Redistribution (including commercial redistribution) must be -permitted, so that the manual can accompany every copy of the program, -on-line or on paper. Permission for modification is crucial too. -</p><p> -As a general rule, I don't believe that it is essential for people to -have permission to modify all sorts of articles and books. The issues -for writings are not necessarily the same as those for software. For -example, I don't think you or I are obliged to give permission to -modify articles like this one, which describe our actions and our -views. -</p><p> -But there is a particular reason why the freedom to modify is crucial -for documentation for free software. When people exercise their right -to modify the software, and add or change its features, if they are -conscientious they will change the manual too--so they can provide -accurate and usable documentation with the modified program. A manual -which forbids programmers to be conscientious and finish the job, or -more precisely requires them to write a new manual from scratch if -they change the program, does not fill our community's needs. -</p><p> -While a blanket prohibition on modification is unacceptable, some -kinds of limits on the method of modification pose no problem. For -example, requirements to preserve the original author's copyright -notice, the distribution terms, or the list of authors, are ok. It is -also no problem to require modified versions to include notice that -they were modified, even to have entire sections that may not be -deleted or changed, as long as these sections deal with nontechnical -topics. (Some GNU manuals have them.) -</p><p> -These kinds of restrictions are not a problem because, as a practical -matter, they don't stop the conscientious programmer from adapting the -manual to fit the modified program. In other words, they don't block -the free software community from making full use of the manual. -</p><p> -However, it must be possible to modify all the <span class="emphasis"><em>technical</em></span> -content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual -media, through all the usual channels; otherwise, the restrictions do -block the community, the manual is not free, and so we need another -manual. -</p><p> -Unfortunately, it is often hard to find someone to write another -manual when a proprietary manual exists. The obstacle is that many -users think that a proprietary manual is good enough--so they don't -see the need to write a free manual. They do not see that the free -operating system has a gap that needs filling. -</p><p> -Why do users think that proprietary manuals are good enough? Some -have not considered the issue. I hope this article will do something -to change that. -</p><p> -Other users consider proprietary manuals acceptable for the same -reason so many people consider proprietary software acceptable: they -judge in purely practical terms, not using freedom as a criterion. -These people are entitled to their opinions, but since those opinions -spring from values which do not include freedom, they are no guide for -those of us who do value freedom. -</p><p> -Please spread the word about this issue. We continue to lose manuals -to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that proprietary -manuals are not sufficient, perhaps the next person who wants to help -GNU by writing documentation will realize, before it is too late, that -he must above all make it free. -</p><p> -We can also encourage commercial publishers to sell free, copylefted -manuals instead of proprietary ones. One way you can help this is to -check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it, and -prefer copylefted manuals to non-copylefted ones. -</p><p> -[Note: We now maintain a <a class="ulink" href="http://www.fsf.org/licensing/doc/other-free-books.html" target="_top">web page -that lists free books available from other publishers</a>]. -</p><p>Copyright © 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA</p><p>Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article are -permitted worldwide, without royalty, in any medium, provided this -notice is preserved.</p><p>Report any problems or suggestions to <code class="email"><<a class="email" href="mailto:webmaster@fsf.org">webmaster@fsf.org</a>></code>.</p></div><div class="navfooter"><hr /><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="backwards.html">Prev</a> </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="spine.html">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="appendix_gpl.html">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">Backwards Compatibility </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="../spine.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top"> Appendix D. - GNU General Public License version 3 - </td></tr></table></div></body></html> |