[Russian, literally "self publishing"] The process of disseminating
documentation via underground channels. Originally referred to
underground duplication and distribution of banned books in the
Soviet Union; now refers by obvious extension to any
less-than-official promulgation of textual material, esp. rare,
obsolete, or never-formally-published computer documentation.
Samizdat is obviously much easier when one has access to
high-bandwidth networks and high-quality laser printers. Note that
samizdat is properly used only with respect to documents which
contain needed information (see also {hacker ethic}) but which are
for some reason otherwise unavailable, but not in the context of
documents which are available through normal channels, for which
unauthorized duplication would be unethical copyright violation. See
{Lions Book} for a historical example.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {Lions Book}]