Hello Developers, I am still owning a copy of ISPConfig 3.1 User Manual. Since then, there are many new features in ISPConfig 3.2.12. Will you update user manual content to explain those new features?
I approve of this request. I also own a 3.1 manual and it's missing information on quite a few features by now. With the release of 3.3 this deficiency is more pronounced than ever.
I just bought the latest version of the ISPConfig manual, because mine is too old (Version 1.4 for ISPConfig 3.0.5) and I need accurate information about the latest news, BUT I discover with amazement that it is not at all up to date either because it is the 2016-09-27 edition for ISPConfig 3.1! How do you get the right version, without paying 5 € again for nothing. Not because it"s expensive, but for the principle. Thank you
This is the current version, it's clearly stated on the ISPConfig manual page: https://www.ispconfig.org/documentation/user-manual/ I'll cite the text, which is even in bold so you can not miss it: And as I mentioned above, we are working on a new version. Getting ISPConfig is nothing? What if I were to stop providing ISPConfig for you for free ... for the principle? I guess you do not know the costs of developing and maintaining such software as ISPConfig ...
Okay, it's true, it's written, I went too fast! And if I had read, I would not have had this feeling, that I expressed badly and that hit you. Pardon. And when the documentation will be up to date, I will gladly pay it again. But it started from a good intention: I wanted to read the official documentation before asking my question on the forum, to avoid having as a laconic answer to go buy and read the doc, as is already the case in certain discussions ^^. So I'm going to ask the question about the forum. My native language is French, all my apologies if I do not express myself well in that of Shakespaere! I'm a developer for 40 years, I know very well what you are talking about.
Please ignore this person... From his posts, it is clear that he has no idea how much time, effort, and above all - money goes into this project. For my part, I can only say that I would be pleased if you updated the manual more often. Plus, as far as I'm concerned, it can even be a little more expensive. If this is the main form of support by regular users for the project, then the price is literally a steal. I will be happy to buy each version again and again. It's the least I can do to support this sensational project. Plus, comprehensive documentation is always helpful. So, if anyone who doesn't understand this doesn't appreciate the voluntary work of others.
open-source software or free-of-charge software could be very expensive. Python, PHP, etc are actually supported by super rich companies such as Fackbook, google etc. Android is also supported by numerous adv customers.
And just to give you an idea, updating the manual completely from scratch costs a significant amount of money; I expect roughly the amount that sales of the manual bring in over 5 years at the current price. So if I would decide to update it, then this means I will have to spend that money from my own savings. I might be able to earn it back with luck within five years and no money is invested in ISPConfig development until the costs can be covered. So, basically, ISPConfig gains nothing from that update of the manual for years, while it currently gains at least a small part of the server's costs from it. The only way to solve it is if either someone volunteers to rewrite the manual for free, or we leave it as it is and I try to gradually update it over time if there is some free time, or we drastically increase the price for a new manual.
Here is my suggestion. If I were you, I would not write the manual from scratch. I would rather add new features as Appendix. Wherever new feature is needed to be mentioned in the regular context, simply refer to the Appendix. Because science evolves so fast, many great old science treatises are renewed in this way.
