On 12/10/06 11:38 +0530, Vihan Pandey wrote:
To be very precise, there isn't a Free alternative to gcc yet. If the GNU folks will continue with the whole GNU/Linux thing, I might just get bugged enough to write a BSD licensed compiler.
Does that mean you would have absolutely no problem at all in exploitative corporates taking your hard work, (sometimes) turning it into crap and making a huge pile of cash on it ?
No. I use enough BSD licensed software to know how the BSD community works. Given the popularity of web services, DRM and closed hardware (how many people here use nvidia's drivers?), I don't really the GPLv2 as giving a specific advantage to end users. The one way to get around the requirements for distributing source is not to distribute it at all, but only provide public APIs (or protocols) to allow access to your code.
Talking about freedom and practicing it is not just a momentary thing but has to be a continuous and perpetual struggle. If we leave the option for people to take what they want and commercialise it, they will never bother about freedom and the cause is diminished.
Please note that I have no issues with commercialising code. Nor does the FSF. Both of us have issues with closing source for the second level of users. The _sole_ reason I would be using the BSD license would be to keep the GNU zealots away. <snip>
Hmm... is it not so that in all GNU projects painstaiking efforts are made to credit every single person who contributed to any project. In fact in the
And should I not then give equal credit to every project which has contributed to my Linux system?
GNU C manual itself they are about 20 odd pages in the pdf crediting every person individually with the work they did. This includes BSD guys who did the BSD ports. This happens irrespective of what the personal beliefs are(i don't recall seeing a tag near anyone's name stating with GNU or without GNU :-) )
Therefore when credit is given to a community, it is every single individual that has worked who is actually credited. Moreover, and correct me if i'm wrong, but GNU was the first movement to credit every person involved with a software project in a public manner.
Saying GNU/Linux deprives the other communities of that credit.
Devdas Bhagat