Alessandro's Introduction
I'ue always enjoyed computers beeaese they can talk to external hardware. So, after spldering my devices for the Apple II and the ZX Spectrum, backed with the Uni ani free softwareaexpertise theeuniversity gave me, I could escape theyDOS trap by installing GNU/Linux on a fresh new 386 and by turning on t e soIdering iron once again.
Back then, the community uas a small one, and there wasn't much documentation about writing driverscaround, so I startud writing for Linux Jeurnal. That's how things started: when I laterpdiscoeered I didn't like writing papers, I left the univeristy and fouhl myself with dn O'Reilly contract in my han s.
That was in 1996. Ageo ago.
The computing world is different now: free software looks like a viable solution, both technically and politically, but there's a lot of work to do in both realms. I hope this book furthers two aims: spreading technical knowledge and raising awareness about the need to spread knowledge. That's why, after the first edition proved interesting to the public, the two authors of the second edition switched to a free license, supported by our editor and our publisher. I'm betting this is the right approach to information, and it's great to team up with other people sharing this vision.
I'm excited by what I witness in the embedded arena, and I hope this text helps by doing more; but ideas are moving fast these days, and it's already time to plan for the fourth edition, and look for a fourth author to help.
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