> Why not collect .pdf and .ps files at some central site, where all
> potential developers can get them. Most technical documentation is
> available electronically, so there is really no need for a person
> shuffling paper.
>
> BTW: I don't think SANE developers should accept signing a NDA to
> write drivers for scanners. _ever_. Vendors refusing to give out
> technical specs without NDA should be convinced that this is a bad
> idea, but we should not make drivers where the source is closed.
>
Please seperate idealism from the real world. Microtek (I belive the
company in question) appears to want technical documentation for their
eyes only, but allows release of source derived from that documentation.
If they want to operate that way, we have to deal with it. (we can try to
change them, which might work long term)
If we can get documentation in form suitable for using to further Sane
drivers, that is good. Eventially we can bring them around to the right
way, and even if we can't, we still can get people like me father away
from windows, and more into an open source world.
We cannot just put documentation on a web site, they won't allow us to.
Putting it up against their will is a bad thing. It gives open source a
reputation as bad peopel, willing to do whatever it takes to further their
ends, and anyone who wants to (incorrectly, but it is their choice)
protect their information will not allow any open source use. Worse they
will let other manufactures know, and pretty soon nobody will release
anything for fear that we will reveal too much! Soon Sane and all other
open source applications die because no hardware can be supported.
Remember, not everyone agrees with your phillosphy. No matter how wrong
they are, you need to deal with people who disagree with you, and refusing
to deal with those who are trying to meet in the middle (see the parrelle
port scanner problems for the other option) because they aren't willing to
come all the way to our terms isn't a compromise.
Of course if you personally refuse to use scanners from companies that
won't release full documentation for all their scanners (and
otherhardware) that is your business. Feel free to make whatever personal
choices you want. Just remember that not everyone is as extreem as you,
and try not to limit our options.
--
http://www.black-hole.com/users/henrymiller/
hank@black-hole.com
--
Source code, list archive, and docs: http://www.mostang.com/sane/
To unsubscribe: echo unsubscribe sane-devel | mail majordomo@mostang.com