GNU/Linux, FLOSS, and Ubuntu

[Smoot Carl-Mitchell]

On Sat, 2007-08-25 at 14:26 -0400, Shawn McCuan wrote:

> Really it boils down to Richard Stallman being a little too psychotic
> about free software. On one end, you have Microsoft, where 99.9% is
> closed source and proprietary - on the other extreme is Richard
> Stallman (GNU) and his "everything must be absolutely and without
> question 100% open source or the world is going to end" view. I'm a
> huge proponent of open source software. I would like to see a world
> that was 100% open source, but I know that chances of that happening
> in my lifetime are slim to none...so, if I have to use one or two
> source applications with my free software, that is okay by me.

Use of the word psychotic is inappropriate in this context.  Mr.
Stallman is being quite rational and consistent in his views about Free
(as in liberty) Software. I do not think he has a problem with
proprietary software - people can license or copywrite their own
intellectual property in any way they see fit.

He does have a problem when companies take and use software from the
public commons and then turn around and prevents users from modifying
the software or license it under very restrictive terms.  This is the
main reason he came up with the GPL and I am glad he did.


-- 
Smoot Carl-Mitchell
System/Network Architect
email: smoot at tic.com
cell: +1 602 421 9005
home: +1 480 922 7313