Re: [cssed-devel] Format of documentation

[Iago R. <iag...@hi...>]

On Fri, 2005-02-11 at 20:40, Mich=C3=A8le Garoche wrote:
> Le 11 f=C3=A9vr. 2005, =C3=A0 20:21, Iago Rubio a =C3=A9crit :
>=20
> > On Fri, 2005-02-11 at 20:02, Mich=C3=A8le Garoche wrote:
> >> Le 11 f=C3=A9vr. 2005, =C3=A0 19:54, Iago Rubio a =C3=A9crit :
> >>
> >>> On Fri, 2005-02-11 at 17:52, Mich=C3=A8le Garoche wrote:
> >>>> Le 11 f=C3=A9vr. 2005, =C3=A0 17:48, Iago Rubio a =C3=A9crit :
> >>>>
> >>>>> On Fri, 2005-02-11 at 11:22, Mich=C3=A8le Garoche wrote:
> >>>>>> Le 11 f=C3=A9vr. 2005, =C3=A0 11:17, Iago Rubio a =C3=A9crit :
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> On Fri, 2005-02-11 at 06:19, Mich=C3=A8le Garoche wrote:
> >>> [snip]
> >>>>> Saxon have not even packages for Linux but a zip, and is not in the
> >>>>> most
> >>>>> common distros.
> >>>> Java is free, Saxon is free.
> >> Unless I've missed something, Sun as released Java as free open source
> >> package last year.
> >
> > Where is such distribution ?
> > http://java.com/en/download/license.jsp

I'm sure you got confused with the Solaris OS that was opened by Sun
last year. But they retained licensing on Java.

> You need no more than the virtual machine, it is integrated in any=20
> system, no?

That's the problem.

As it's a non free package most Linux distributions don't ship it - well
no Linux distribution but Novell's one.

As it's not shipped by distributions, it does not fit in the system
update tools, and have no automatic updates.

Users should go to the Java.com page and accept a license to get the
software but it's not integrated in the software management system tools
at all.

> Oh, well, I don't discuss anymore on this. It leads to nowhere. Every=20
> system has a part which is not open source, be it hardware, middleware=20
> or software, hence with your logic, you cannot deliver anything.

That's what should be changed. Computing is not bounded to closed
licenses, and a completely open system is nearest today than ever.

There's an open hardware movement, and an open bios project working
right now.=20

Open source software is a success and I'd like to continue contributing
to it. To use or require closed source tools, is not the way to achieve
the goal of completely free systems, but the way to spread dependencies
on closed systems.

I know it's a kind of zealotry, but well ... the only way to go for it
is being a bit zealot.

> And by the way, it is not mandatory to deliver the sources, just the=20
> output, which can be done in a4 and us formats if needed.

I know that, but I want to post the sources so anyone willing to help
could be able to contribute to the documentation.

If anyone offers help with the docs, I don't want to tell him he should
accept a closed license, and install closed source packages.

Take into account that downloading Java, you're accepting - among other
things - to pay even attorney fees if anyone hungry enough sues Sun for
something you made related with Java.

That's too much for lots of people.

With this I don't say I don't use Java. You can even download some Open
Source Java applications written by me long time ago.=20

But what I don't want to do is to make mandatory to install Java to
build the docs.

I could be all right if there are makefiles to use with saxon to get=20
better looking docs, but only if there are makefiles to use with open
source tools to achieve a ugliest - but usable - result.=20

Unfortunately, to maintain those dual build scripts will be a burden,
and lots of compatibility issues will arise sooner or later.

Is possible to build only the PDFs with saxon and the HTML with open
source tools ?

I suppose xsltproc can make the transformation from XML/XSLT to HTML.

Am I right ?
--=20
Iago Rubio  =20
- Home page    * http://www.iagorubio.com=20
- Last project * http://cssed.sourceforge.net        =20
- GPG Keyserv  * pgp.rediris.es id=3D0x909BD4DD