I've been thinking long and hard about the licensing of the new version of the PickAxe.
As you know, soon after publishing the original book we released it for free under an open license. We did this for two reasons. First, we wanted to see the Ruby community grow, and we felt that having the book available would help. We think that this happened. Second, we hoped that we'd set a trend, and that all Ruby books would end up open-sourced. This didn't happen. In fact, what seemed to happen is that folks picked up the free version of the PickAxe and used the money they'd saved to buy one of the other, closed titles.
So, for the new book, we won't initially be releasing the entire book for free. Instead, we'll be contributing to the community in different ways. First, I've already taken all the updated reference section (with something like 150 new or significantly different methods) and released it to core developers. It's been used to add RDoc comments to the Ruby source. That represented many months of work. Second, we'll use the fact that we're in control of the publishing process to keep the costs, and hence the price, down.
I wanted to announce this now so there's no surprise when the book comes out (probably in October).
So, for the new book, we won't initially be releasing the entire book for free. Instead,
I will gladly pay money for your new book. The first version of Pickaxe was what got me into Ruby in the first place. Buying it was probably the best computer book purchase I have ever made, and I have bought a LOT of computer books (just ask my wife).
You guys definitely deserve to make money for your efforts. Don't worry about how this impacts your contribution to the Ruby community. I would say that other than Matz's creation of Ruby, your book has had the greatest impact on the growth of Ruby.
Just my $.02.
Jamey
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I've been thinking long and hard about the licensing of the new version
of the PickAxe.
As you know, soon after publishing the original book we released it for
free under an open license. We did this for two reasons. First, we
wanted to see the Ruby community grow, and we felt that having the book
available would help. We think that this happened. Second, we hoped that
we'd set a trend, and that all Ruby books would end up open-sourced.
This didn't happen. In fact, what seemed to happen is that folks picked
up the free version of the PickAxe and used the money they'd saved to
buy one of the other, closed titles.
So, for the new book, we won't initially be releasing the entire book
for free. Instead, we'll be contributing to the community in different
ways. First, I've already taken all the updated reference section (with
something like 150 new or significantly different methods) and released
it to core developers. It's been used to add RDoc comments to the Ruby
source. That represented many months of work. Second, we'll use the
fact that we're in control of the publishing process to keep the costs,
and hence the price, down.
I wanted to announce this now so there's no surprise when the book comes
out (probably in October).
Cheers
Dave
If it's only half as well done as the first book, it will have to be in
my library. It's only fair that you would collect some money for your work.
I believe that I'm speaking on behalf of a lot of people when I say
that your (and Andy's) contributions to the Ruby community over the
years -- in terms of code, documentation and advocacy in general --
have been invaluable and greatly appreciated. I paid for my
now-tattered copy of the first PickAxe book and encouraged others to
do so as well, even though it was available for free online. If anyone
gives you grief about this decision, let us know and we'll beat them
up.
Also, be sure to let us know as soon as you're taking pre-orders for
the new book.
···
On Fri, 9 Jul 2004 23:47:12 +0900, Dave Thomas <dave@pragprog.com> wrote:
I wanted to announce this now so there's no surprise when the book
comes out (probably in October).
Good for you! You shouldn't be expected to give the fruits of your labor away
for free. I can't wait to see how it turned out.
Sean O'Dell
···
On Friday 09 July 2004 07:47, Dave Thomas wrote:
So, for the new book, we won't initially be releasing the entire book
for free. Instead, we'll be contributing to the community in different
ways. First, I've already taken all the updated reference section (with
something like 150 new or significantly different methods) and released
it to core developers. It's been used to add RDoc comments to the Ruby
source. That represented many months of work. Second, we'll use the
fact that we're in control of the publishing process to keep the costs,
and hence the price, down.
I've been thinking long and hard about the licensing of the new version
of the PickAxe.
As you know, soon after publishing the original book we released it for
free under an open license. We did this for two reasons. First, we
wanted to see the Ruby community grow, and we felt that having the book
available would help. We think that this happened. Second, we hoped
that we'd set a trend, and that all Ruby books would end up
open-sourced. This didn't happen. In fact, what seemed to happen is
that folks picked up the free version of the PickAxe and used the money
they'd saved to buy one of the other, closed titles.
Well it corresponds with my experiences, not with books but with all
kind of "free beer" things...
It's annoying to see that hard work (and this is what it takes to
write a book) is not honored....
However I feel not guilty because I bought that book. It was my
"step-into" ruby.
I struggled more then once with RIDE which is one of the most unusable
things I happened to use, but just checked ot ArachnoRuby
later and guess what happens Arachno works, but on recommodations Ride
is mentioned over and over again.
So, for the new book, we won't initially be releasing the entire book
for free.
Seems to be a good idea for me.
Regards
Friedrich
···
--
Please remove just-for-news- to reply via e-mail.
So, for the new book, we won't initially be releasing the entire book
for free. Instead, we'll be contributing to the community in different
ways.
Do you plan to offer an electronic version for sale? The current HTML
version is quite convenient for searching, and I can carry it with me
on my laptop.
Cheers
Dave
Sam
···
On Fri, 9 Jul 2004 23:47:12 +0900, Dave Thomas <dave@pragprog.com> wrote:
First, we wanted to see the Ruby community grow, and we felt that
having the book available would help. We think that this happened.
agreed, and thank you. Even for us "lurkers", we really appreciated it.
open-sourced. This didn't happen. In fact, what seemed to happen is
that folks picked up the free version of the PickAxe and used the money
they'd saved to buy one of the other, closed titles.
well, in my case, the largest motivation for the purchase (Pickaxe being
my 1st ruby book) was due to its public release. Evangelisting ruby was
great when you could point people to a URL of a page you just found
useful.
I wanted to announce this now so there's no surprise when the book
comes out (probably in October).
thanks again, and understandable. but really - with the 1st book still out
there, and updated ri docs in the distro and on ruby-doc.org, I don't really
see any neglect. The 1st pickaxe is still a fine piece of work, and goes
a long way describing the rubyway.
In any case, I'll pick up a copy of #2 (can't wait). Oh, and I think an HTML
version would be fantastic - I'd find it really useful.
open-sourced. This didn't happen. In fact, what seemed to happen is
that folks picked up the free version of the PickAxe and used the money
they'd saved to buy one of the other, closed titles.
I am the counter-example. I have not got too much computer books
(maybe a dozen), but the two open-source book I have ever read on the
net (yours and a tcl/tk book) is included. I have decided to buy it
because I saw that it is worth it, and I do not like reading from the
monitor. (And your book is my only ruby book...)
Dave Thomas <dave@pragprog.com> wrote in message news:<DA50B6EA-D1B6-11D8-A508-000A95676A62@pragprog.com>...
So, for the new book, we won't initially be releasing the entire book
for free. Instead, we'll be contributing to the community in different
That's OK. I bought your book for myself, twice.
However, I *love* having the reference available online. Would you
consider providing an electronic version for people who buy the book,
or would that be courting piracy?
As you know, soon after publishing the original book we released it for free under an open license. We did this for two reasons. First, we wanted to see the Ruby community grow, and we felt that having the book available would help. We think that this happened. Second, we hoped that
I just started learning Ruby 1 month ago, and your book online was the primary reason I got hooked. If it were not available, I probably would not have learned Ruby.
I'm too poor right now to get books (and I have a long list of books that I want) so I really appreciate having it online. As soon as I have some more disposable income, I will certainly be purchasing it. (Probably the new edition, at the rate I'm going)
No surprise. I'll buy it in a split second. And if I have to pay for an
HTML or a PDF version, so be it. Good work needs reward, and Pickaxe is
one hell of a good work.
PS: now Hal, how about a Ruby Way 2 ?
···
Dave Thomas <dave@pragprog.com> wrote:
I wanted to announce this now so there's no surprise when the book
comes out (probably in October).
I bought the PickAxe book *after* I perused the online version for a week or
two. A key issue is that the cross-references faithfully reproduced in the
online version were impossible to follow, at least for this humble reader.
Equally important is the failure of the online version to permit "bedtime
reading." So I happy with my old-fashioned "Gutenberg" version and hardly
ever refer to the "high tech" online version.
Of course, my little data point matters little compared to the macroscopic
voew that you perceive. But maybe my experience has some "human interest"
value.
Best wishes,
Richard
···
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You guys definitely deserve to make money for your efforts. Don't worry
about how this impacts your contribution to the Ruby community. I would
say that other than Matz's creation of Ruby, your book has had the
greatest impact on the growth of Ruby.
> So, for the new book, we won't initially be releasing the entire book
> for free. Instead,
You guys definitely deserve to make money for your efforts. Don't worry
about how this impacts your contribution to the Ruby community. I would
say that other than Matz's creation of Ruby, your book has had the
greatest impact on the growth of Ruby.
+1
Jim
···
--
Jim Menard, jimm@io.com, http://www.io.com/~jimm/
"Don't eat crackers in the bed of your future or you'll get ... scratchy!"
-- The Tick
We might well offer a PDF version, but that hasn't been confirmed yet.
Cheers
Dave
···
On Jul 9, 2004, at 10:43, Sam Stephenson wrote:
Do you plan to offer an electronic version for sale? The current HTML
version is quite convenient for searching, and I can carry it with me
on my laptop.
> Folks:
>
> I've been thinking long and hard about the licensing of the new version
> of the PickAxe.
[snip]
It's annoying to see that hard work (and this is what it takes to
write a book) is not honored....
However I feel not guilty because I bought that book. It was my
"step-into" ruby.
I struggled more then once with RIDE which is one of the most unusable
things I happened to use, but just checked out ArachnoRuby
later and guess what happens Arachno works, but on recommodations Ride
is mentioned over and over again.
I'm not familiar with RIDE, but I assume you are *not* referring to FreeRIDE
(if I'm wrong please let me know what the problem was).
Curt
···
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I have not got too much computer books