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ESR Interviewed in Tweak3d
Spud wrote to us with an
interview with ESR. Fairly standard material - why Linux is better, and why the Open Source idea works. It's good to see ESR back in the swing of things again, tho'.
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While the BSD crowd certainly has their beliefs about code sharing, consider that many programmers, if they choose to contribute to an Open Source project, want to ensure that their code remains open, and is never used (at least not legally) in proprietary software. In other words, "Feel free to use my code, as long as you let others use yours. If you don't want to share, then don't use my code." The GPL ensures this. BSD-ish licenses, whatever their other strengths, do not. Hence the popularity of GPLd projects like Linux.
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Get your fresh, hot kernels right here!
Code licensed under BSD style licenses make up an important part of every GNU/Linux distribution. However, only the GPL was designed to guarantee freedom for the users. The BSD license allows companies to horde the source code and release proprietary software using that code.
I do not think that the BSD license can compete when the big companies start getting involved in free software. The GPL makes sure everyone stays on an even playing field. Look, Solaris has been based upon BSD, as had BSDi. To my knowledge these companies have not made significant contributions to the BSD community. They have based their operating systems around proprietary improvments to the BSD codebase. Is that what you want to happen to Linux?
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and NetBSD aren't growing as quickly as Linux, at least to my knowledge. I think a very large part of the reason Linux is popular today is because developers *like* the GPL, and users *like* the GPL.
Kirk
ESR's attitude worries me somewhat. He seems to say that stability is the only thing linux has going for it. What happens if Windows starts to become more stable? Then there is no reason to use Linux.
The real reason to use Linux is the GPL. It gives users freedoms that just aren't obtainable in the Windows world. I really wish that ESR would talk about these important freedoms and get people excited instead of just saying "it doesn't crash".
I suppose this attitude is one of the differences between Open Source and Free software.
Kirk
>whats a better license than the GPL that >*ensures* that the code will always remain free?
Raptor: "You can use this code for anything you damned well feel like, so long as the source code for any modifications that you make are made available at no additional cost when you distribute and such source is covered by this license."
Keeps the source free, keeps it under the same license, and is willing to play with any other from any license without attempting to assimulate it.
Watch out your window for four horseman, check that the moon hasn't turned to blood, and keep an eye out for other similar Signs. . .
:)
Why is it, that Linux users are always referred to as geeks ? I'm sick and tired of being referred to as a geek, by people who I consider more excentric than myself.
It seems that someone who writes code, or likes LaTeX, or has the ability to start a piece of software that doesn't have an icon on the desktop for it, are simply ``geeks''.
Anyone who's interested in anything, and I guess that sort of covers most people, knows something about that thing, that other's maybe don't. If a geek is someone who simply knows something about something which the observer doesn't, then most people are by definition ``geeks''. I wish the non-{Linux,UN*X} users would accept that fact, and stop referring to us as geeks.
It's damaging for the image of Linux, that people refer to it's user base as geeks, in a way that implies that most other people aren't geeks. They are, and so what. Get over that geek hump. Accept that Linux users knows something about something that non-Linux users don't, but don't imply that Linux is reserved for Linux-geeks only.
It's sick the way that people tend to put other people in categories, like geeks vs. non-geeks. Show me a non-geek and I'll show you someone who's lying about their interests.
because of ESR, I for one will be grateful, and consider him worth having around. I, as a techie, would much rather not have windows on my desk at work, like I do now.
Vidi, Vici, Veni
The notion of an open source OS (so it's easy to write apps for and tweak to your heart's content) and proprietary apps (so developers have food on the table and can make money with a good idea) works just great with me. There are a lot of proprietary apps that I really like and will continue to use. Obviously, given the choice between having something open sourced or closed, all other things being constant, I would pick the open one. But as we all know, it doesn't work that way, and I'm fine with that.
My point about ESR is that, while he may get under people's skin and say some off the wall things that many others don't agree with, he is still a very useful person to have around. He did, after all, play a big part in the oss mozilla in his present role, and before that (like many have already pointed out) wrote some very useful code.
I don't like to let outside issues (like, oh, say, gun control :-) get mixed in with arguements like this one, because they are irrelevant. Do outsiders really think we are all just like him; that he represents us all? Not unless they're stupid (hmmmm, maybe I better not go there).
I can see one useful goal for linux/oss advocacy. No, it isn't to put it on every countertop of every home. It is to get companies to accept oss as a viable alternative to css (can I make a new acronym?) in certain situations, like device drivers, if the thing you want to sell is the hardware. Or Linux/BSD on a server, if what you really want is to just shut the thing up in a closet and never have to worry about it again.
Bottom line: ESR has demonstrated an ability to push us closer to those goals. Who cares what kind of PR we get if those goals are met? That's what we really want, isn't it?
Vidi, Vici, Veni
Still reeling? Shocked that someone else in the community might have a different political opinion than you? In case you haven't noticed by now, this is a meritocracy. We don't judge people by their political views, religious beliefs, ethnicity, or anything else like that. The only thing that matters are acts. It is the strength of this community that people with different beliefs can work together to create something better. Eric has done tremendous things for free and open software. What have you done?
If I can't defend my liberty, then I have no liberty.
A Government Is a Body of People, Usually Notably Ungoverned
Nothing to do with linux development? I don't know about the kernel itself, but he has created, modified or participated in:
:) but I belive in giving credit where credit is due.
Fetchmail
keeper
sitemap
harvester
and some languages, like:
intercal
pilot
cupl
and a bunch of other stuff...just do a grep for his name or initials in your linux box...you'll find a bunch.
BTW, I don't even now ESR, and actually don't enjoy the interviews he does much (is always the same one
Vox
Pain is the gift of the gods, and I'm the one they chose as their messanger...