On Thu, 21 Aug 2003, Sergey V. Spiridonov wrote: > I see no need (but it is still possible) to have a very exact line > between program and documentation.
There's no need for such a line if and only if we don't make a distinction between the freedoms that documentation must have, and the freedoms that software must have. If we decide to make such a distinction, we have to have a ruberic to tell one from the other. > What can be a good start point is that programs can be executed by > computer. Documentation is intended for human consumption and usually > can not be executed by computer. Refering back to Manoj's example, these defintions fail to indicate which set of standards we should apply to the documentation+software+data bits. > I want you understand me correctly, it is possible to have a clear > exact bright line to distinguish between program and documentation. I don't follow the logic of this statement. In light of Manoj's example, how to you separate the program from the documentation? Seems to me rather like separating the hole from the donut.[0] I'll bring up one more anecdote that will hopefully bring more light to this issue. The US Judicial system has long sought to find a suitable method to distinguish art from erotica and pornography. Art is rather clearly protected under the First Amendment. The Supremes have traditionally held that pornography is not protected to the same degree, and as such can be regulated to some degree by the legislature. Because of this, they have had to come forward with a series of definitions to try to define pr0n. The best so far? Justice Potter Stewart's: "I know it when I see it"[1] Since we can't seem to adequately differentiate between the two, perhaps we should learn the lesson that the US legislature seems incapable of. Namely, stop treating them separately, and merely apply the same ruberic to everything in Debian.[2] Don Armstrong 0: http://www.seeing-stars.com/Images/Slides/RandysDonuts.JPG 1: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=378&invol=184 2: Excluding copyright notices and separable licenses, of course. -- UF: What's your favourite coffee blend? PD: Dark Crude with heavy water. You are understandink? "If geiger counter does not click, the coffee, she is just not thick." http://www.donarmstrong.com http://www.anylevel.com http://rzlab.ucr.edu
pgpf9gaqZgbo9.pgp
Description: PGP signature
