# Domesday Duplicator

> hardware/software project for capturing analog information from laserdiscs

**Wikidata**: [Q123485420](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123485420)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/domesday-duplicator

## Summary
The Domesday Duplicator is a hardware and software project specifically designed for capturing analog information from laserdiscs. As an instance of free software, it provides users the freedom to run, study, modify, and distribute the application. The project is actively maintained through a GitHub repository, with its latest stable release version 2.4.

## Key Facts
- **Description:** A hardware/software project for capturing analog information from laserdiscs.
- **Software Class:** Instance of **free software**.
- **License/Philosophy:** Distributed under terms allowing users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it and modified versions; characterized by the "four freedoms" and associated with the free software movement.
- **Source Repository:** `https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator`
- **Documentation URL:** `https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator/wiki/Overview` (English)
- **Latest Version:** 2.4 (Stable), released March 4, 2025.
- **Version History:** includes stable releases 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4.
- **Development Timeline:** Recorded stable releases span from December 14, 2017, to March 4, 2025.

## FAQs
**Q: What is the Domesday Duplicator used for?**
A: The Domesday Duplicator is a hardware and software project used to capture analog information stored on laserdiscs.

**Q: What type of software license does the Domesday Duplicator use?**
A: It is classified as free software. This means it is distributed under terms that allow users to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software and its modified versions, distinct from proprietary software.

**Q: Where can the Domesday Duplicator source code be found?**
A: The source code is hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator`.

**Q: What is the most recent version of the Domesday Duplicator?**
A: The most recent stable version is 2.4, which was released on March 4, 2025.

## Why It Matters
The Domesday Duplicator is significant because it serves a specialized role in digital preservation, specifically targeting the capture of analog information from laserdiscs—a medium that predates modern digital formats. By classifying itself as free software, the project ensures that the tools required for this preservation are accessible, modifiable, and distributable by the public, rather than being locked behind proprietary restrictions. This aligns with the free software movement's goal of providing users with the "four freedoms," fostering an environment where the software can be adapted to evolving preservation needs without legal or technical barriers.

## Notable For
- Being a specialized tool for **laserdisc analog capture**.
- Operating as a **free software** project, ensuring user freedoms to modify and redistribute.
- Distinction from **proprietary software**, emphasizing user liberty over restricted licensing.
- A consistent release schedule with **11 stable versions** recorded between 2017 and 2025.
- Hosting its code and documentation publicly on **GitHub**.

## Body

### Definition and Classification
The Domesday Duplicator is a specialized project comprising both hardware and software components. Its primary function is the capture of analog information sourced from laserdiscs.

The project is explicitly classified as an **instance of free software**. Consequently, it adheres to the definitions and characteristics of this category:
- **Permissions:** Users are allowed to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software and any modified versions.
- **Philosophical Context:** It is associated with the **free software movement** and is considered part of the broader **open source movement**.
- **Opposition:** It stands in contrast to **proprietary software**.
- **Subclass:** It is described as a subclass of **freely redistributable software**, **source-available software**, and **open-source software**.

### Repository and Documentation
The project is developed and maintained using GitHub.
- **Source Code:** The official repository is located at `https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator`.
- **Wiki/Overview:** Detailed descriptions and documentation are available at `https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator/wiki/Overview` (in English).

### Version History and Release Timeline
The Domesday Duplicator has undergone extensive development with a documented history of stable releases. The following versions are established in the project's record:

*   **Version 1.2:** Released December 14, 2017.
*   **Version 1.3:** Released December 26, 2017.
*   **Version 1.5:** Released April 27, 2018.
*   **Version 1.6:** Released June 3, 2018.
*   **Version 1.7:** Released June 19, 2018.
*   **Version 1.8:** Released August 12, 2018.
*   **Version 2.0:** Released August 19, 2018.
*   **Version 2.1:** Released September 24, 2018.
*   **Version 2.2:** Released June 17, 2019.
*   **Version 2.3:** Released December 27, 2022.
*   **Version 2.4:** Released March 4, 2025 (Listed as the preferred stable version).

## References

1. [Release 1.2. 2017](https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator/releases/tag/V1.2)
2. [Release 1.3. 2017](https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator/releases/tag/V1.3)
3. [Release 1.5. 2018](https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator/releases/tag/V1.5)
4. [Release 1.6. 2018](https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator/releases/tag/V1.6)
5. [Release 1.7. 2018](https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator/releases/tag/V1.7)
6. [Release 1.8. 2018](https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator/releases/tag/V1.8)
7. [Release 2.0. 2018](https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator/releases/tag/V2.0)
8. [Release 2.1. 2018](https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator/releases/tag/V2.1)
9. [Release 2.2. 2019](https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator/releases/tag/V2.2)
10. [Release 2.3. 2022](https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator/releases/tag/V2.3)
11. [Release 2.4. 2025](https://github.com/simoninns/DomesdayDuplicator/releases/tag/V2.4)