Front Matter¶

Isn't this book free?

Yes, the HTML version is free. But the other electronic versions are not.

What do you mean by "pay what you can"?

It means that I want people to learn Modelica in an affordable way. If you are a college student, you can read the HTML version for free or spend $5 and get the electronic versions of the book, too. If you are a professional engineer, you could probably afford to pay around $20 or so for a book tied closely to your professional activities. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide what the book is worth to you. I impose a minimum amount of $3 because otherwise fees tend to swallow all the income.

What happens if a newer version comes out?

Anyone who buys the electronic version of the book is entitled to free upgrades for life. Be sure to include your email address and you'll be added to the mailing list of people who receive new download links for subsequent version. So you don't have to worry about getting stuck with an old version.

What kind of DRM is there on the electronic version?

None. I hate DRM and I don't want to waste my time trying to prevent people from stealing the material. If you are that desperate that you need to steal it rather than pay $5 then go ahead. But I believe that most technical people are inherently honest and I trust them to pay what they think is appropriate. I hope they prove me right.

Wasn't this book already paid for via Kickstarter?

The Kickstarter project was a way to demonstrate demand for the book and avoid taking on a big financial risk. At the end of the day, the goal was a free HTML book on Modelica and that was successful. But I hope to keep the book up to date over time and publish a print version. Those activities go beyond the scope of the original Kickstarter project and by buying the book you not only provide financial compensation for the effort that was already made in creating the book but it encourages such future work as well.

Is there a print version of book?

At the moment, there is no print version of the book. Our goal is to incorporate all the feedback we receive on the HTML version of the book before making a print version. We want to avoid situations where the print version becomes obsolete compared to the electronic versions. We do plan to produce a print version. So, please subscribe to our mailing list to be informed when the print version becomes available.