I think you are missing the point! This is not about GNU vs Linux, GNU vs
OpenSource or GNU vs BSD.
The main purpose of FSF is to promote and ensure the freedom of software.
When we talk of freedom there is always the issue of responsibility and
certain sacrifices that has to be made. If one persons freedom viloates
another persons freedom then it doesnt safe guard the freedom.
For example in the case of the BSD license (specially the original one) one
is allowed to take exisiting work, make modifications and not release it back
to the public when it is redistributed. In my opinon this is just the sort of
thing that leads to aniticompetitve software practices and a lot of
fragmentation. In some instances this is worse than proprietary software
IMHO.
Opensource and the bazzar model are more or less software developent
methodologies not to be confused with Free software movement which stresses
on the importance of sharing software and the freedom to use it.
My opinion is that with the popularization of OpenSource and Linux, rms and
the FSF camp has found it as an obsticle to promote the free software
concept. Just the fact that people are calling GPL a viral license shows that
they have misunderstood the facts. GPL isnt enforced upon anyone but those
who participate in it are supposed to have accepted beacuse they understand
and embrase the freedom software should have. While I personally think RMS
telling to rename anything which says Linux to GNU/Linux is impractical (e.g.
Redhat GNU/Linux, Mandrake GNU/Linux etc.) his intensions arent because he is
a sore looser or because there is x% of GNU software bundled with Linux. It's
because people will ask what is GNU? just as they ask what is Linux and this
question will lead to expand their horizon about the importance of Free
Software.
Bud
On Wednesday 24 March 2004 9:12, Harsha Senanayake wrote:
> > at +GNU. Giving credit where credit is due is one of the virtues of open
> > source programmers and the contributions by GNU software in Linux
> > distributions should be acknowledged IMHO.
> > One of the motivational factors of opensource is the recognition it
> > provides. Being a gift culture (as put by ESR in his seminal Cathedral
> > and the Bazaar) the more one gives away the more merit and status one
> > gains in the community. Basically a system of meritocracy. And this
> > cannot function without proper acknowledgement. ESR puts this more
> > nicely in Homesteading the Noosphere IIRC.
>
> Very true.. and I honor and respect your stand on this.
>
> But we should be pragmatic, ppl got to know the FOSS OS as Linux and that's
> what we have been preaching about for over a decade now. Tux became
> industries beloved idol and they have heavily invested in bringing it
> closer to masses. Linux became popular coz it got commercialized, why would
> ESR want to ride that wave? I am not a believer in his philosophy, I may be
> an ignorant utopian but my idea of freedom is definitely not GNU GPL.
>
> Havent the contributors to gnu.org have given enough recognition to his
> movement? for godsake we have "g" in front of every gnu software (ok I am
> embarrassed that I missed the gnome "g" :-) .. when I read about the gnome
> foundation I thought it was a separate entity) When it comes to
> acknowledging ppl, I think BSD does a much better job.
>
> > While there are many players involved in a GNU/Linux distribution, such
> > as Apache, BSD etc. I think we could safely say that the major players
> > are GNU and Linux. Out of which the GNU/Linux symbiosis is formed with
> > which most of us are in love (and some happily married... with kids).
>
> You are leaving out the possibilities of GNU finally completing it's Herd
> kernel and Apache|Perl|IBM ;-) giving Linux kernel the utils&libs .. may be
> intel will donate the vital gcc code [
> http://www.intel.com/software/products/compilers/clin/ -- Linux kernel can
> be compiled without gnu] and Ulrich Drepper will fork glibc [
> http://sources.redhat.com/ml/libc-announce/2001/msg00000.html -- skim down
> to "And now for some not so nice things"]
>
> > GNU/Linux debate seems to me to be appropriate as in one sense it seems
> > unfair that GNU is left out.
>
> GNU couldnt deliver the most crucial component and Linux became it's
> savior.. we all respect ESR and gnu project but GNU/Linux does not justify
> anything. Finally I dont think GNU/Linux is marketable (philosophical
> politics ofcourse ;-) .. just imagine the offspring of tux and ungulate for
> the new logo.. hehehe...
>
> regards,
> Harsha
>
> ps you might enjoy this one ;-) ,
> http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=ahbou%3DBURLEY.96May30131208%40tweedle
>dumb.cygnus.com&oe=UTF-8
>
>
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