Slashdot Mirror
Open Source Code And War
"Should Open Source developers help the U.S. prepare for war with Iraq?" Roblimo has a piece on NewsForge which addresses that question by showing a specific way that the U.S. military is using Free and Open Source software (in simulator-based training for Blackhawk helicopters), and letting one of the developers involved speak for himself. If software is Free, doesn't that already answer the question of who can use it?
Now, if only they would distribute the software for the simulators or even run "Arcades" with networks of these thing setup, we could have 8 year old fighter veterans!
Now the Iraqi pilots get get up to snuff in their large fleet of Blackhawk choppers using US simulators!
I hope not. No one has enough traction to stay on that slope for long.
And then have the blackhawk control software crash, like the new 7-series BMW control software?
That could be interesting... a "possessed" Blackhawk bombing random targets and crashing into buildings...
"Owning a computer is like having your very own TV -- with a built in radio!" - Ed Helms
What makes you think that the military would want your crappy code? I've seen your code and it SUCKS!
with my government using open source software to fight terrorists...
as long as they...
don't call me a terrorist.
There is a goatse.cx link in this post. Please mod it down so other /. readers aren't tricked into viewing it.
In Canada we have the same sort of kiosk's to talk about the US.
It's called a hockey game
Posting useless rant since 2003.
Better watch out there. You are coming close to mentioning a certain time in history with a certain war started by a certain leader of a certain country that did certain things to certain people in certain parts of the world. And once you do that someone gets to say "You lose." I know it's a strange rule, but that's how everyone else plays.
Oh crap...the thought of my software being used to kill Iraqi children is just too much to bear...[sob]
The cake is a pie
Since you saw it in a movie, it must be fact?
I hope you don't watch professional wrestling.
-Bill
SlashSig Karma: Excellent (mostly affected by moderatio
I love the typical ultra-liberal Slashdot kneejerk. Consider (applying to US laws/military):
1. You owe all of the grand technology you wrote your comment on to the US military. All of the cool stuff we work on and use personally with regards to Internet communications was developed, in part, by the military. They make good stuff.
2. So what if the military uses the code? I'm not about to sling around the T-word (begins and ends with 'T', favorite word of Ashcroft), but c'mon. Might that be a little reactionary to prohibit the group that protects our freedoms from employing your work to protect more of our freedoms? It's the politicians, not the military, that suck.
3. Two words: emminent domain.
4. If you think for a split second that some silly clause in an open software license is going to stop the US mililtary, or that if you managed to prove it, you could sue them successfully, you need to stop huffing gasoline.
I don't mean this to come off as a troll (it's a passionate disagreement), but just 'cause it's military don't mean it's bad. Lighten up, folks.
They may even like it more than the college kids!
How dare you even suggest that! I'm a college student, and the only thing I hold higher in regard above my beer is the prospect of getting more beer!
If I had all the money I'd ever spent on beer, I would go out and buy some beer!
Dude, I go to an engineering school. I'm not actively forced away from members of the opposite sex, but I may as well be. I think my school's all of 20% female.
Greetings Starfighter.
You have been recruited by --George Bush-- to defend the frontier against Xur and the --Sadaam-- Armada....
Dude, your head is screwed on backwards! The prospect of getting more beer should be priority #2 after you deal with item #1 on the agenda, the beer currently in front of you.
Sheesh. Kids these days. I weep for America.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Would you rather have the military and government using open source software or Microsoft?
Yeah, there's this smart bomb heading your way, and then suddenly, instead of killing you, you see the blue screen of death.
Karma: Chevy Kavalierma.
#include
//Ok let's see if it will run without //War being declared...
#include
#include
#include
int main()
{
cout "Attack!" endl;
while ((War==True) && (!Over_And_We_All_Go_Home_Heros))
{
Bomb();
}
return 0;
}
Mod Parent Funny...and mod my college experience sadly similar...
The few women got creative and in the 'converted' mens bathrooms, they put plants in the urinals. Even I'd water plants if it was THAT easy!
People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people
What gives?
Slow news day + Newsforge needs some traffic.
Women as stress RELIEF?? Lord, they are the cause of it most of the time...
Jeremy
The Right To Keep and Bear Arms is about more than target shooting or hunting...
Well, let's get the story straight mister. Either we have the right to Keep And Arm Bears, or we don't.
Body armor should be available to bears. After all, the second amendment to the Constitution guarantees the right to arm bears.
Oh, wait...