No Respect for Windows Open Source

man_of_mr_e writes "Shaun Walker, one of the founding developers of the DotNetNuke Portal/CMS has written an interesting piece about Open Source software on the Windows platform. "It's hard being an open source project on the Microsoft platform. Because no matter how hard you try to exemplify true open source ideals, you will not get any respect from the non-Microsoft community." He also says "There are Open Source zealots who believe that unless an application is part of a stack which includes 100% Open Source services and components, that it can not claim to be Open Source. [...] But does this "stack" argument actually make any sense?""

Comments

I use a lot of OSS on doze

[drinkypoo]

Hell, I even depend on the stuff to get my work done. I mean, real work: I use mozilla at my place of employment, for example, and it definitely makes me both more and less productive than internet exploder (depending on whether I'm using it for work, or for slashdotting.) And, I tend to use cygwin everywhere.

But, at the same time, I totally understand the argument that people who write OSS for windows or port OSS to windows are part of the problem (tm). If we want to defeat windows - and I hope we do, because it sucks - we shouldn't be supporting windows by making it more usable.

Re:I use a lot of OSS on doze

[killjoe]

You realize of course that constantly calling people who disagree with you zealots (or communists, or cancer, or anti american) does not help you at all. In fact you come off looking much worse then they are.

I think it is you who is the zealot here.

By the way saying "you take things too seriously relax" is no different then "shut up and take it bitch" in this case.

Its about priorities

[Clockwurk]

I use lots of open source software on windows (firefox, VLC, thunderbird, etc.) and really enjoy it. I get the best of both worlds; I can use awesome software for free and I don't have to deal with any of the shortcomings of linux (my copy/paste works correctly, all my hardware is supported, and I can play games other than frozen bubble and tux racer).

I'm not sure why any open source developer would shun windows. On Windows, the users have no problems paying for good software (I bought x-chat for windows), and the market for software is a lot larger than the 3 or 4% that use linux.

Off the mark

[totallygeek]

I don't think that the problem is a lack of respect, but perhaps we are sensibly cautious. I mean, Microsoft has a documented history of wanting to destroy open source. Just because they layer some open source apps on their operating system without a mention of apology or cast-in-stone policy change we should all believe they seen the light?