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FoxPro On Linux, Drama Ensues
bltfast32 writes "I don't know how many people have been following this, but this is definitely worth keeping an eye on. Whil Hentzen, prominent FoxPro and Linux advocate, has received some heat lately for publishing a HOWTO in the March 2003 FoxTalk issue for running Visual FoxPro 8.0 on Linux with WINE. Of course, the aforementioned heat, is coming from Redmond. Here is a link to a nice summary of the interactions by Whil." That summary mentions the Register article online here. bltfast32 also points to another article which requires registration.
Can end users be penalized if they run something that uses statically or dynamically liked VFP code on Linux? Say, I get a screensaver and I decide to run it on Wine, (but for some reason the screensaver uses some VFP code, don't ask me why or how :) ), do I get into trouble?
Or, am I being too paranoid?
S
The VFP user community is of course mostly responsible for this. Sites like UniversalThread have "kept the flame" going for many years, much to the chagrin of Certain People at MS that would very much like the thing to die and go away. This is the difference between VB (which got effectively killed with .NET) and VFP - the people who use it. They're a vociferous, dedicated and almost fanatical bunch. But they've gotten their way every single time.
I remember the endless threads back in the mid 90's on Usenet about how VFP was on the way out, to be replaced by VB and VC++. They're on their 8th version now, going strong. VB only got to 6, and MS never really solved its problems (VC++ is a different issue - it's actually used by Microsoft so they can't touch it). Guess who's laughing now.
And I doubt this time things will go differently.
Good thing MS was convicted of anti-trust violations. Now they can't tie thier software to the Windows OS...
I love justice! How about moving away from FoxPro and MS to send MS a message? Like "we won't bow to your oppresive EULAs anylonger".
ps: Fb- is the father.
NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
Then you don't understand many Open Source developers. You do know that Window's TCP stack is based on BSD, right?
Those who fail to understand communication protocols, are doomed to repeat them over port 80.
*rimshot*
No, not if they fit. It seems like a ridiculous assertion.
Yet this is precisely the same problem we have here with VFP and WINE. Erosion of rights in using a product. Maybe in future EULAs, Microsoft will prevent the use of the install CD case to hold open doors in offices with BSD servers.
Dumb? Yeah. But where will it stop?
In fact, it probably costs them more dollars for their lawyers to draft various emails and notices than it would if a few Linux nerds run MS software
are you kidding? This is 100% about profits. Microsoft knows it makes some great products (like FoxPro) but the majority of their market share is in the OS, which is not nearly as well made. Microsoft knows if they let people start using their good products on other OSs that they'll lose their OS market share. Why bother using a buggy, and insecure OS when you can get a much better product for free, assuming you're willing to put in the effort to use linux.
Micosoft is not just worried about a few linux nerds, they're worried about companies doing the math to figure out the difference in cost between paying someone to get their system working in linux and the cost of paying for MS licenses. As a linux nerd I have no personal need to run MS software and potentially violate their EULA, but I know that companies are willing to pay me to do it if it helps their bottom line.