Appeal for the ebook release of the Lazarus guidebook

[vicot]

Am I the only person who thinks  that the Lazarus guide is a bit expensive? In fact, I believe it is outrageously expensive, especially considering that it concerns to an open source language, supported by a community of volunteers.
Yes, I have noticed that it is a thick volume, printed on good paper, etc and I understand that its authors put a lot of effort into it. 
But still, its price is too much for many of us.
I really struggle to come to terms with the rationale of such an expensive book for an open source volunteer-based language like Free Pascal.

The solution, as I see it, would be to release the ebook for free.

I kindly request the book's authors to release a free ebook version of the Lazarus guide for the benefit of the Free Pascal community.

[Pascaluvr]

I have no problem with the price of a good Lazarus reference guide, but the problem I see is that it just has the basics.  There doesn't seem to be any explanation of the available components - for those, we still need to do google searches = weed out out the crap - and find how to use these components.

Working in reverse - there are many components that we dont even know about, until we 're-invent the wheel' and search for a specific problem with doing so - THEN we find that there was already something out there!.

A reference guide to published available components is something I would pay for.

[jwdietrich]

Did you recently try the Lazarus Wiki?

From day to day it is growing better. Recently, its search function has been reactivated, and a new category structure helps to find relevant articles more easily.

[BigChimp]

Why not improve/extend the existing open source book:
http://code.sd/startprog/

(more books etc mentioned here http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Pascal_and_Lazarus_Books_and_Magazines)

As jwdietrich mentions, there's information enough on the wiki page. You're welcome to contribute.

Do you think an ebook version will be given away for free? What about competition with selling the paper version if there's a large price differential[1]? Doesn't seem very economically sound.

[1] I'd suspect the printed book costs are largely due to the limited print run, but what do I know. I've bought the book anyway.

[felipemdc]

[1] I'd suspect the printed book costs are largely due to the limited print run, but what do I know. I've bought the book anyway.

Most of the cost is for the distributor, like Amazon, they take a 50% share. Next comes the editor. The paper&print itself would be third. Authors are on the last position of the list =P

The english version of the book had an extra high cost because of the professional translation from german, but it has no distributor (it is distributed directly), so I guess one thing cancels the other.

The german publisher has the most control over the book, not the authors, so voicing such proposal to authors (like me) is more or less useless.

[jwdietrich]

In order to get some overview over the growing number of books about Lazarus and Free Pascal I have created a Free Pascal catalog for Open Library.

See http://openlibrary.org/subjects/free_pascal and expand as required.

[typo]

http://www.agbook.com.br/book/115107--Comece_a_Programar_com_Object_Pascal

[systems]

is there even a way to buy an ebook of "lazarus the complete guide"
from the website it seems i can only buy a print version of the book

is this true or did i miss something?

[Graeme]

I'd buy the eBook version too... even just to support the authors for doing such hard work.

[lkhalid]

I'd buy the eBook version too... even just to support the authors for doing such hard work.

+ 1

even if a French version will be more appreciated

[eny]

You could try to pick up one of the older versions of Mastering Delphi by Marco Cantu.
Some have such a low price that the shipping cost are higher than the book itself.
It'll teach anyone the language fundamentals, the basics of OO development with Pascal and many of the components that are available in the xCL libraries.
Ofc from time to time there will be the odd compatibility issue.
But that's why we have the forum

[howardpc]

I have spoken recently to Detlef Overbeek (the Dutch publisher of the Lazarus Guide in English). He is prevented by the terms of his contract from publishing any part of the book electronically.
The German publisher (C & L) of the German original own and control all the rights to that book.
Detlef purchased the right to translate and publish the book in English as a printed volume, and then paid translators to make an English version, and a printing company to produce bound copies. A number of international volunteers were involved in editing and proof-reading the English version alongside Detlef. One day he may see sales from this venture cover its costs, but that has not happened yet.
You could ask C & L to publish an electronic version of the book in German (they have the right to do so), but I think you would receive a very firm "No" judging by the very restrictive terms under which they licensed production of an English version (an enterprise which they did not initiate).

[jack616]

Just a "me too"

I'd go out of my way to pay for a good quality reference book.
I can't count the number of times I've re-invented the lazarus wheel.
(I must emphasize "good quality reference" though. Another book explaining what
a for-next loop is or how "wonderful" lazarus is would not go down well)

[Graeme]

Time for somebody to whip out the old scanner and OCR software then.   [just kidding of course]

[systems]

blaisepascal seem to be working on a new pascal book
and it will have a PDF version

https://twitter.com/DetlefOverbeek/status/390841922635317249