29 Mar
2006
29 Mar
'06
7:48 a.m.
Greetings:
My publisher, Bill Pollock, has been gently pressuring me to commit to
completing the 2nd edition of The Book Of Linux Music & Sound.
Unfortunately I'm in a precarious position to commit myself to the work.
The first book nearly wiped me out, I'm not sure I can sustain the
effort to bring the next edition to light. Nevertheless, I'm still
interested in seeing this book through to completion. So I have some
questions for the community :
1. Is there a real need for another book such as the The Book Of Linux
Music & Sound ?
2. If so, would I be wise to ignore the 2.4 kernel series ? (It would
make it easier to ignore material re: OSS/Free)
3. Would anyone be interested in co-authoring the book ? I've
considered offering some chapters to certain people on these lists, but
the issue of reimbursement gets sticky WRT royalties and other
compensation. I made very little money from the first book, but money
wasn't the true reward anyway, so perhaps there's a way to turn it into
a community-based work.
4. Is anyone else already working on such a project ? I don't want to
duplicate efforts.
Btw, this is the last hurrah for this project. If I don't take it now
I won't be taking it on at all. I have a life, it's pretty full, and
committing to this edition would be a major disruption. I can guarantee
that it would be the last book I'll ever write.
I look forward to your comments and advice.
Best regards,
dp
29 Mar
29 Mar
7:53 a.m.
Dave Phillips <dlphillips(a)woh.rr.com> writes:
2. If so, would I be wise to ignore the 2.4 kernel
series ? (It
would make it easier to ignore material re: OSS/Free)
I'd say so. People with enough interest in sound to buy the book will
not be likely running old kernels. 2.4 sounds like not being worth
considering in my opinion.
--
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum
9:21 a.m.
Hi Dave,
You don't have to do everything, you know.
I would say that if I was to vote, I would vote for a community based project.
This have to be closed ended, what I mean is since the projects themselves have
much to gain by being included in such a book, if they are interested in the
exposure why wouldn't they be interested in contributing.
Beyond that if the publisher is agreeable to having two versions:
one for sale and one free, then it could evolve into sorta a linuxaudio-docs
project.
I would think this is an important project, but not to kill yourself over.
Aaron
If I didn't just start a course and full-time techwriting, I would have said I
would write it......
Aaron
2:47 p.m.
On Wed, Mar 29, 2006 at 02:20:57PM +0200, aamehl(a)actcom.net.il wrote:
Hi Dave,
You don't have to do everything, you know.
I would say that if I was to vote, I would vote for a community based project.
This have to be closed ended, what I mean is since the projects themselves have
much to gain by being included in such a book, if they are interested in the
exposure why wouldn't they be interested in contributing.
Beyond that if the publisher is agreeable to having two versions:
one for sale and one free, then it could evolve into sorta a linuxaudio-docs
project.
IIRC, there was such an agreement with regard to Dave's book becoming
the docs for the A/Demudi project at one point ...
I would think this is an important project, but not to
kill yourself over.
Second that. I think everyone here wants Dave around for as long as
possible in a coherent and healthy state. :)
Aaron
If I didn't just start a course and full-time techwriting, I would have said I
would write it......
I would like to help, too, but then I seem to say that about way too
many things. So, as usual I can't promise anything just yet. If I could
just ditch my job and be a full time linux audio bum I would definitely
help ... but, well, reality and all that ...
--
Eric Dantan Rzewnicki
Apprentice Linux Audio Developer and Mostly Harmless Sysadmin
(text below this line mandated by management)
Technical Operations Division | Radio Free Asia
2025 M Street, NW | Washington, DC 20036 | 202-530-4900
CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION
This e-mail message is intended only for the use of the addressee and
may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Any
unauthorized dissemination, distribution, or copying is strictly
prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error, please contact
network(a)rfa.org.
12:42 p.m.
1. Is there a real need for another book such as the
The Book Of Linux
Music & Sound ?
I bought my latest computer book some ten years ago. Things go too
fast nowadays and from the moment the author ends the writing until it
reaches my bookshop the information it contains is already dated.
Furthermore, linux audio is at a fluid point where many things are
coming together, but are not there just yet for the end user. As far
as I am concerned, and of course YMMV, key areas where I feel
commercial software is still years ahead are Virtual Studio and
WYSIWYG music notation, among others.
What is the profile of the potential reader? Non-technical people will
be scared of Linux if their distro doesn't detect their hardware at
the installation. Developers are used to find the information they
need on the net, although they can appreciate a good reference book on
_stable_ technologies. For the technically oriented musician perhaps
there is not that much readily usable software yet.
I think I wouldn't take the job if the only reasons were financial.
Perhaps in a couple of years. Until then, I am looking forward to this
web that aggregates the scattered resources around that people have
been talking about.
My 2 eurocents,
Luis
3:08 p.m.
On 3/29/06, Luis Garrido <luisgarrido(a)users.sourceforge.net> wrote:
I think I have to second this. I own the first edition, but I don't
think a second would be helpful to me or too many others (due to the
current rate of development).
The type of info that would be in a second edition, in addition to the
tutorial-style stuff mentioned in another post, would be a great
reference for everyone if it were on-line and maintained by capable
writers (like Dave). However, the current scattered and incomplete
tutorials, Howtos, manuals, and wikis make me think that such a
resource will never exist. I'm not blaming anyone for that, since I
never contribute to those efforts either.
1. Is there
a real need for another book such as the The Book Of Linux
Music & Sound ?
I bought my latest computer book some ten years ago. Things go too
fast nowadays and from the moment the author ends the writing until it
reaches my bookshop the information it contains is already dated.
Furthermore, linux audio is at a fluid point where many things are
coming together, but are not there just yet for the end user. As far
as I am concerned, and of course YMMV, key areas where I feel
commercial software is still years ahead are Virtual Studio and
WYSIWYG music notation, among others.
What is the profile of the potential reader? Non-technical people will
be scared of Linux if their distro doesn't detect their hardware at
the installation. Developers are used to find the information they
need on the net, although they can appreciate a good reference book on
_stable_ technologies. For the technically oriented musician perhaps
there is not that much readily usable software yet.
I think I wouldn't take the job if the only reasons were financial.
Perhaps in a couple of years. Until then, I am looking forward to this
web that aggregates the scattered resources around that people have
been talking about.
My 2 eurocents,
Luis
30 Mar
30 Mar
10:52 a.m.
On Wed, 29 Mar 2006 at 13:08 -0500, Paul Coccoli wrote:
The type of info that would be in a second edition, in
addition to the
tutorial-style stuff mentioned in another post, would be a great
reference for everyone if it were on-line and maintained by capable
writers (like Dave). However, the current scattered and incomplete
tutorials, Howtos, manuals, and wikis make me think that such a
resource will never exist. I'm not blaming anyone for that, since I
never contribute to those efforts either.
Need it always be so? Or can we get a little organized and greatly
improve the situation? My own opinion is that the community can do this
with a little organization and motivation. Someone well-repsected and
experienced in documenting (e.g. Dave) could head the organization, and
the publishing carrot would provide just enough motivation for many
people. Without the publishing carrot I think we would still benefit
from a little organization.
Dave, I have always enjoyed reading your articles and posts and of
course the linux-audio site. I don't have the old book, simply because
it was already too old when I came onto the scene. If you had the time
and energy to continue to be a one-man show I would be delighted. But
assuming you don't, as you have stated, let's consider organizing the
community into documentation cells. One or two people could be in charge
of a reasonably-sized topic with a lightweight organizational structure
(just big enough).
I have a friend who has done just this for the Asterisk community, and
in the end it ended up an O'Reilly book, so if we need any advice we can
ask them. asteriskdocs.org
--
Hans Fugal ; http://hans.fugal.net
There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the
right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.
-- Johann Sebastian Bach
3:24 p.m.
On Thu, 2006-03-30 at 06:52 -0700, Hans Fugal wrote:
Need it always be so? Or can we get a little organized and greatly
improve the situation? My own opinion is that the community can do this
with a little organization and motivation. Someone well-repsected and
experienced in documenting (e.g. Dave) could head the organization, and
the publishing carrot would provide just enough motivation for many
people. Without the publishing carrot I think we would still benefit
from a little organization.
Before anyone starts writing new documentation, what is most desperately
needed is for someone to remove all the bad documentation out there (for
example most of the ALSA wiki dealing with .asoundrc files and dmix)
Lee
8:48 p.m.
On Thu, 30 Mar 2006 at 13:24 -0500, Lee Revell wrote:
On Thu, 2006-03-30 at 06:52 -0700, Hans Fugal wrote:
Yes, absolutely.
--
Hans Fugal ; http://hans.fugal.net
There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the
right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.
-- Johann Sebastian Bach
Need it always be so? Or can we get a little organized and greatly
improve the situation? My own opinion is that the community can do this
with a little organization and motivation. Someone well-repsected and
experienced in documenting (e.g. Dave) could head the organization, and
the publishing carrot would provide just enough motivation for many
people. Without the publishing carrot I think we would still benefit
from a little organization.
Before anyone starts writing new documentation, what is most desperately
needed is for someone to remove all the bad documentation out there (for
example most of the ALSA wiki dealing with .asoundrc files and dmix) 
9:36 p.m.
> Need it
always be so? Or can we get a little organized and greatly
> improve the situation? My own opinion is that the community can do
this
> with a little organization and motivation.
Someone well-repsected and
> experienced in documenting (e.g. Dave) could head the organization,
and
the
publishing carrot would provide just enough motivation for many
people. Without the publishing carrot I think we would still benefit
from a little organization.
Before anyone starts writing new documentation, what is most desperately
needed is for someone to remove all the bad documentation out there (for
example most of the ALSA wiki dealing with .asoundrc files and dmix)
31 Mar
31 Mar
12:48 a.m.
New subject: [linux-audio-user] RE: [linux-audio-dev] regarding the 2nd Book Of Linux Music & Sound
On Thu, 2006-03-30 at 19:36 -0500, Ivica Ico Bukvic wrote:
Seems to me that what could solve both the issue of consolidation and of
duplicate, mostly outdated documentation is generating a central website
that provides one Wiki page for every pertinent topic, whether that be a
specific software, system setup topic (i.e. ALSA), and/or
distribution-specific how-to. The end-users and/or project devs/contributors
could help generate the material
IMHO wikis are what got us into this mess - there's nothing to stop
users from posting wildly inaccurate information. So you end up with
dozens of users posting .asoundrcs that they don't understand, but
happened to solve (or hide) some problem for them.
Lee
Before anyone starts writing new documentation, what
is most desperately
needed is for someone to remove all the bad documentation out there (for
example most of the ALSA wiki dealing with .asoundrc files and dmix)
Yes, absolutely.
5:17 a.m.
New subject: [linux-audio-user] RE: [linux-audio-dev] regarding the 2nd Book Of Linux Music & Sound
Seems to me
that what could solve both the issue of consolidation and of
duplicate, mostly outdated documentation is generating a central website
that provides one Wiki page for every pertinent topic, whether that be a
specific software, system setup topic (i.e. ALSA), and/or
distribution-specific how-to. The end-users and/or project
devs/contributors
could help generate the material
IMHO wikis are what got us into this mess - there's nothing to stop
users from posting wildly inaccurate information. So you end up with
dozens of users posting .asoundrcs that they don't understand, but
happened to solve (or hide) some problem for them.
11:49 a.m.
New subject: [linux-audio-user] RE: [linux-audio-dev] regarding the 2nd Book Of Linux Music & Sound
On Thu, 30 Mar 2006 at 21:52 -0500, Lee Revell wrote:
On Thu, 2006-03-30 at 19:36 -0500, Ivica Ico Bukvic
wrote:
Seems to me that what could solve both the issue of consolidation and of
duplicate, mostly outdated documentation is generating a central website
that provides one Wiki page for every pertinent topic, whether that be a
specific software, system setup topic (i.e. ALSA), and/or
distribution-specific how-to. The end-users and/or project devs/contributors
could help generate the material
IMHO wikis are what got us into this mess - there's nothing to stop
users from posting wildly inaccurate information. So you end up with
dozens of users posting .asoundrcs that they don't understand, but
happened to solve (or hide) some problem for them.
I don't think Lee is the only one with concerns about Wikis, and because
there are other solutions that would work just as well I recommend we
just steer towards them from the get-go.
I think Hieraki may be a good choice. It gets its name from
wiki+hierarchy (and access control). As their demo is not really
working, here's an example hieraki-powered site:
http://docs.rubyrake.org/read/book/1
The hieraki website is http://www.hieraki.org/trac/ and a good overview
with screenshots is at http://www2.truman.edu/~ah428/noc.html
I probably don't have the bandwidth to sustain the site long-term, but
if we want to try out hieraki before asking linuxaudio.org (or wherever)
to install it, I could host a quick test setup of it.
--
Hans Fugal ; http://hans.fugal.net
There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the
right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.
-- Johann Sebastian Bach
Before anyone starts writing new documentation, what
is most desperately
needed is for someone to remove all the bad documentation out there (for
example most of the ALSA wiki dealing with .asoundrc files and dmix)
Yes, absolutely. 
30 Mar
30 Mar
5:50 a.m.
On Wed, Mar 29, 2006 at 06:21:15AM -0500, Dave Phillips wrote:
Greetings:
My publisher, Bill Pollock, has been gently pressuring me to commit to
completing the 2nd edition of The Book Of Linux Music & Sound.
Unfortunately I'm in a precarious position to commit myself to the work.
The first book nearly wiped me out, I'm not sure I can sustain the
effort to bring the next edition to light. Nevertheless, I'm still
interested in seeing this book through to completion. So I have some
questions for the community :
1. Is there a real need for another book such as the The Book Of Linux
Music & Sound ?
I have been missing it, and would most probably buy it.
I would encourage you to do it.
Asbjørn
6846
days inactive
6848
days old
linux-audio-dev@lists.linuxaudio.org
13 comments
10 participants
participants (10)
-
aamehl＠actcom.net.il -
Asbjørn Sæbø -
Dave Phillips -
David Kastrup -
Eric Dantan Rzewnicki -
Hans Fugal -
Ivica Ico Bukvic -
Lee Revell -
Luis Garrido -
Paul Coccoli