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@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
1@node Preface 1@node Preface
2@chapter Preface 2@chapter Preface
3 3
4@c FIXME: Long sentence is long.
4This collection of manuals describes how to use GNUnet, a framework 5This collection of manuals describes how to use GNUnet, a framework
5for secure peer-to-peer networking with the high-level goal to provide 6for secure peer-to-peer networking with the high-level goal to provide
6a strong foundation Free Software for a global, distributed network 7a strong foundation Free Software for a global, distributed network
7that provides security and privacy. GNUnet in that sense aims to 8that provides security and privacy.
8replace the current Internet protocol stack. Along with an 9GNUnet in that sense aims to replace the current Internet protocol stack.
9application for secure publication of files, it has grown to include 10Along with an application for secure publication of files, it has grown to
10all kinds of basic applications for the foundation of a new Internet. 11include all kinds of basic applications for the foundation of a new
12Internet.
11 13
12@menu 14@menu
13* About this book:: 15* About this book::
@@ -57,29 +59,34 @@ They are followed by chapters which need more work:
57@section Contributing to this book 59@section Contributing to this book
58 60
59The GNUnet Reference Manual is a collective work produced by various 61The GNUnet Reference Manual is a collective work produced by various
60people throughout the years. The version you are reading is derived 62people throughout the years.
61from many individual efforts hosted on our website. This was a failed 63
62experiment, and with the conversion to Texinfo we hope to address this 64The version you are reading is derived
63in the longterm. Texinfo is the documentation language of the GNU project. 65from many individual efforts hosted on one of our old websites.
66In the end it was considered to be impractical to read by
67those who required the information.
68With the conversion to Texinfo --- the version you are reading
69right now --- we hope to address this in the longterm.
70Texinfo is the documentation language of the GNU project.
71
64While it can be intimidating at first and look scary or complicated, 72While it can be intimidating at first and look scary or complicated,
65it is just another way to express text format instructions. We encourage 73it is just another way to express text format instructions.
66you to take this opportunity and learn about Texinfo, learn about GNUnet, 74
67and one word at a time we will arrive at a book which explains GNUnet in 75We encourage you to take this opportunity and learn about Texinfo,
68the least complicated way to you. Even when you don't want or can't learn 76learn about GNUnet, and one word at a time we will arrive at a
69Texinfo, you can contribute. Send us an Email or join our IRC chat room 77book which explains GNUnet in the least complicated way to you.
70on freenode and talk with us about the documentation (the prefered way 78
71to reach out is the mailinglist, since you can communicate with us 79Even when you don't want to or can't learn Texinfo, you can contribute.
72without waiting on someone in the chatroom). One way or another you 80Send us an Email or join our IRC chat room on freenode and talk with
73can help shape the understanding of GNUnet without the ability to read 81us about the documentation (the prefered way to reach out is the
74and understand its sourcecode. 82mailinglist, since you can communicate with us without waiting on
83someone in the chatroom).
84One way or another you can help shape the understanding of GNUnet
85without the ability to read and understand its sourcecode.
75 86
76@node Introduction 87@node Introduction
77@section Introduction 88@section Introduction
78 89
79@c In less than 2 printed pages describe the history of GNUnet here,
80@c what we have now and what's still missing (could be split into
81@c subchapters).
82
83GNUnet in its current version is the result of almost 20 years of work 90GNUnet in its current version is the result of almost 20 years of work
84from many contributors. So far, most contributions were made by 91from many contributors. So far, most contributions were made by
85volunteers or people paid to do fundamental research. At this stage, 92volunteers or people paid to do fundamental research. At this stage,
@@ -126,12 +133,17 @@ social network, resulting in a significant growth of the core team.
126In 2013, we launched @uref{https://taler.net, GNU Taler} to address 133In 2013, we launched @uref{https://taler.net, GNU Taler} to address
127the challenge of convenient 134the challenge of convenient
128and privacy-preserving online payments. In 2015, the 135and privacy-preserving online payments. In 2015, the
129@c TODO: Maybe even markup for the E if it renders in most outputs. 136@c XXX: It is not correct to refer to pEp as pEp stylistic,
130@uref{https://pep.foundation/, pEp} (pretty Easy privacy) project 137@c XXX: but the correct version would lead to problems with
138@c XXX: some of our outputs and/or older versions of texinfo
139@c XXX: and devices that display versions on consoles etc.
140@c XXX: This is why we keep the pEp until proven that p(tripple bar)p
141@c XXX: does not create broken outputs.
142@uref{https://pep.foundation/, pretty Easy privacy} (pEp) project
131announced that they will use GNUnet as the technology for their 143announced that they will use GNUnet as the technology for their
132meta-data protection layer, ultimately resulting in GNUnet e.V. 144meta-data protection layer, ultimately resulting in GNUnet e.V.
133entering into a formal long-term collaboration with the pEp 145entering into a formal long-term collaboration with the pEp
134foundation. In 2016, Taler Systems SA, a first startup using GNUnet 146Foundation. In 2016, Taler Systems SA, a first startup using GNUnet
135technology, was founded with support from the community. 147technology, was founded with support from the community.
136 148
137GNUnet is not merely a technical project, but also a political 149GNUnet is not merely a technical project, but also a political
@@ -148,7 +160,7 @@ Similarly its flaws are not limited to the protocol design. Thus,
148technical excellence by itself will not suffice to create a better 160technical excellence by itself will not suffice to create a better
149network. We also need to build a community that is wise, humble and 161network. We also need to build a community that is wise, humble and
150has a sense of humor to achieve our goal to create a technical 162has a sense of humor to achieve our goal to create a technical
151foundation for a society we would like to live in. 163foundation for a society we would like to live in.
152 164
153 165
154@node Project governance 166@node Project governance
@@ -159,15 +171,12 @@ follows the governance model of a benevolent dictator. This means
159that ultimately, the GNU project appoints the GNU maintainer and can 171that ultimately, the GNU project appoints the GNU maintainer and can
160overrule decisions made by the GNUnet maintainer. Similarly, the 172overrule decisions made by the GNUnet maintainer. Similarly, the
161GNUnet maintainer can overrule any decisions made by individual 173GNUnet maintainer can overrule any decisions made by individual
162@c TODO: Should we mention if this is just about GNUnet? Other projects
163@c TODO: in GNU seem to have rare issues (GCC, the 2018 documentation
164@c TODO: discussion.
165developers. Still, in practice neither has happened in the last 20 174developers. Still, in practice neither has happened in the last 20
166years, and we hope to keep it that way. 175years for GNUnet, and we hope to keep it that way.
167 176
168@c TODO: Actually we are a Swiss association, or just a German association 177@c TODO: Actually we are a Swiss association, or just a German association
169@c TODO: with Swiss bylaws/Satzung? 178@c TODO: with Swiss bylaws/Satzung?
170@c TODO: Rewrite one of the 'GNUnet eV may also' sentences. 179@c TODO: Rewrite one of the 'GNUnet eV may also' sentences?
171The GNUnet project is supported by GNUnet e.V., a German association 180The GNUnet project is supported by GNUnet e.V., a German association
172where any developer can become a member. GNUnet e.V. serves as a 181where any developer can become a member. GNUnet e.V. serves as a
173legal entity to hold the copyrights to GNUnet. GNUnet e.V. may also 182legal entity to hold the copyrights to GNUnet. GNUnet e.V. may also