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PDFs arent like democracy at all

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snubnose:
For example LibreOffice files would be like democracy, since the software producing them is free.

PDF however is a commercial product. Just like Flash was.

You cannot freely access their definition. As a programmer, I tried.

Also, its a terribly bloated format and really hard to work with.

Tova:
Hi!  :-D

I don't think that Jeph intended that anyone take the analogy you're referring to any further than the comment that PDFs are "not perfect but all the alternatives are worse" (a comment normally used to describe democracy). PDFs are not otherwise anything like democracy, even remotely. Obviously.

Tova:
I should also clarify that by "freely" in your post, I assume that you mean "free as in beer." ISO 32000-2:2017 is published and there's nothing stopping you from buying yourself a copy and implementing it.

pwhodges:

--- Quote from: snubnose on 08 Jul 2020, 23:55 ---You cannot freely access their definition.
--- End quote ---

Well, there's the ISO standard.  OK, not financially free (though a suitable library might have it), but not restricted.

cybersmurf:
PDF is a so-called industry standard, something that had become so ubiquitous it got beyond quasi-standard. Something similar happened to democracy.
Although the Romans realised democracy (or even something limited like a senate) can be flawed in certain areas, hence they created the (limited time) function of Dictator, to override bickering and indecisiveness of several people trying to find a consensus.

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