On Wed, 30 Jul 2003, Mandar wrote:
Hi! Sry for distracting you people by asking you an 'off the mark'topic as you guys/girls(?) must be busy preparing for Ecap.I heard about Lindows,providing the stability of Linux as well as able to run windows program,if so is it the next big thing to hit the market?? I visited their site,I couldn't understand was if it were using linux code then how can they charge for it. I hope you people will provide me the facts about Lindows. Mandar
Hi Mandar,
Thanks for your query.
Even among some who have been in the group for long, there has been some confusion over what Free Software stands for.
What does the term 'free' really mean in this context? Free-of-cost or freedom? Gratis or libre?
Just for debate's sake:
If you wrote a program using GPL'd code, would it be alright to: (i) sell it for a price? (ii) block anyone else from copying it? (iii) charge per-user licence fees? (iv) sell or share it without the source code? (v) improve it, sell it commercially, but hide the source code you've written?
Also, to take the debate further -- what's the difference between Free Software and Open Source? Is there some difference in the licence(s)? Is there some difference in the approach and motivations guiding either of these movements, or is it just a different name for the same thing?
Finally, do you think the GPL is a good licence for (i) individuals (ii) small firms (iii) corporations (iv) all of these (v) none of these? What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of the GPL as compared to the Open Source licences or other model licences? What could be the possible reasons for the popularity of the GPL among developers till date, if you perceive one?
Hope you don't mind me 'answering' your questions with further questions! But I thought this could throw up some interesting debate, and also clarify issues. Others are welcome to participate... FN
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"Fred" == Frederick Noronha <(FN)" fred@bytesforall.org> writes:
Fred> On Wed, 30 Jul 2003, Mandar wrote: >> Hi! >> Sry for distracting you people by asking you an 'off the mark'topic >> as you guys/girls(?) must be busy preparing for Ecap.I heard about >> Lindows,providing the stability of Linux as well as able to run >> windows program,if so is it the next big thing to hit the market?? >> I visited their site,I couldn't understand was if it were using linux >> code then how can they charge for it. >> I hope you people will provide me the facts about Lindows. >> Mandar
Fred> Hi Mandar,
Fred> Thanks for your query.
Fred> Even among some who have been in the group for long, there Fred> has been some confusion over what Free Software stands for.
Fred> What does the term 'free' really mean in this context? Fred> Free-of-cost or freedom? Gratis or libre?
Fred> Just for debate's sake:
Fred> If you wrote a program using GPL'd code, would it be alright to:
Fred> (i) sell it for a price?
Yes.
Fred> (ii) block anyone else from copying it?
Yes and no. You can refuse to give out the code of your program to all and sundry. However you cannot refuse to give the source code to people to whom you have given the binaries (executables). Those who have got the source from you are then free to redistribute the source and the binaries, while you continue selling your program.
Fred> (iii) charge per-user licence fees?
Yes. But I doubt if anyone would pay those fees :)
Fred> (iv) sell or share it without the source code?
No. That is the one thing the GPL doesn't permit you to do.
Fred> (v) improve it, sell it commercially, but hide the source Fred> code you've written?
No.
Fred> Also, to take the debate further -- what's the difference Fred> between Free Software and Open Source? Is there some Fred> difference in the licence(s)? Is there some difference in Fred> the approach and motivations guiding either of these Fred> movements, or is it just a different name for the same Fred> thing?
In one sentence: Free software is about ethical reasons for using open source. Open source is about technological reasons for using free software. OK, that's two sentences, but WTH, my higher math was always lousy :)
Fred> Finally, do you think the GPL is a good licence for (i) Fred> individuals (ii) small firms (iii) corporations (iv) all of Fred> these (v) none of these? What are the advantages and/or Fred> disadvantages of the GPL as compared to the Open Source Fred> licences or other model licences? What could be the possible Fred> reasons for the popularity of the GPL among developers till Fred> date, if you perceive one?
Since you're asking for opinions, I would answer questions (i) to (iv) above with `Yes' and (v) with `No'. Other peoples' perception may vary, but they're jerks and I wouldn't pay them any attention.
<g,d&r>
Fred> Hope you don't mind me 'answering' your questions with Fred> further questions! But I thought this could throw up some Fred> interesting debate, and also clarify issues. Others are Fred> welcome to participate... FN
Regards,
- -- Raju - -- Raj Mathur raju@kandalaya.org http://kandalaya.org/ GPG: 78D4 FC67 367F 40E2 0DD5 0FEF C968 D0EF CC68 D17F It is the mind that moves
-
Frederick Noronha (FN) -
Raj Mathur