It's OK to use this text under the GNU Documentation License. I plan to put the whole handbook out as free software when I have time.
Bruce
Systems Use and Privacy
In order to facilitate communications and business operations, the Company uses a number of devices, objects and systems. This includes but is not limited to mail, e-mail,
telephones, desks, common areas, cabinets, files, computers, networks, passwords, voice mail, etc. Access can be made by the company to any or all of these items or systems at
any time. Employees should not assume that contents of messages are confidential and will be only reviewed by the employee.
The Company does not guarantee the security of the Company's systems, computers or telephones. If you need to communicate in a secure fashion, do it outside of Company
buildings and without using any Company equipment or facilities. We employ technical experts who are able to read your computer data and tap your phone.
Members of the executive staff, the employee's supervisor, or another employee at the direction of a member of the executive staff, may access, monitor and act on any message
or communication or data in any system at any time and may view and consider and act on the contents of any item provided for use in the normal course of company business.
None of this, however, conveys authorization for any employee to eavesdrop. The email, files, and other communications of your co-workers are not your business and you are to
avoid situations that would expose you to them unnecessarily. "Snooping" is unethical and you are liable to be terminated if you engage in it.
Our systems are never to be used for pornography, email spam, ethically questionable or unprofessional activities. Internet service is widely available outside of the Company at
low cost. Do not consider us to be your "Internet provider": our Internet facilities are only for work. Internet communications that are not part of your job should be carried out
using an outside internet provider, a non-Company email address and non-company URLs.
In a nutshell...this means don't be doing nasty or illegal things in the office or on our networks. Respect the fact that your co-workers have access to information on the network
and the computers and they would like to be able to respect you in the morning. The Company reserves the right to inspect information and work environment at any time, with
or without notice
No Personal Businesses On-Site
It is understandable that many of the Company employees are entrepreneurs and may have one or more companies or separate enterprises, outside of their interest in the
Company. It is our desire to nurture and respect the mindset of the entrepreneur. However, under no circumstances shall any employee of the Company run their own company
at or through the Company. The use of the Company resources to conduct said business is strictly prohibited. All such enterprises shall be conducted completely off-site and
shall not in any way be connected to or interfere with the normal operation of the Company
It is understood and accepted that occasional phone calls will need to be made or taken with regard to personal business. However, there shall be no routine phone calls. There
shall be no connections with your personal enterprises and the Company. You are not authorized to use computers, addresses or other Company property, licenses or
identification numbers to conduct your personal enterprise. In addition, you shall not use to the advantage of your personal enterprise any business information acquired on the
job, at the Company.
Well, I made a total ass of my self with a security-related article recently, too. I apologized as gracefully as I could and learned an important lesson for next time. I think we've got to consider it part of the collective learning process, fix what we can, and go on.
The patents look a lot like some things that went on in the early days of computer graphics. At the NYIT computer graphics lab in the late 1970s and early 1980s, we had Genisco frame buffers connected to the Unibus through an adapter we made that had address-processing capabilities using the Genisco processor to handle bus transactions. We did DMA to this device from scanners, and to film recorders, in ways that seem similar to the patents. Probable authors would be Lance Williams, Garland Stern, Alvy Ray Smith, Ed Catmull. The only question I have is what we published about this way back then.
Was there ever really a public-domain version? If so, does the code exist anywhere, in any known archive?
I've been hearing this story for 10 years. Parts of it have never made sense. But it doesn't go away. But then again, the Area 51 story is complete hooey and it doesn't go away, either.
The bat-signal thing is cute. However, my office phone number is 510-558-1133, call any time. This information is in my web pages, in fact there is a downloadable vcard with phone numbers at www.perens.com . Email to bruce@perens.com isn't always answered (I get busy) but is always read.
Also, debsums on Debian. But neither of these tools manage configuration files, just the non-volatile files in the package. And tripwire isn't DFSG-free. We could use someone to do those 10 lines of Perl and product-ize the result as free software.
Maybe he is. Have I ever met him? I read the fantasy programmer competition. It was fun, but in reality I wouldn't have made it to the second round against some of those guys.
Yawn. Who needs it? It's not a very complicated tool, there is existing Free Software that duplicates its function. Folks, this is another file checksum program, not rocket science. It adds yet another incompatible license for people to deal with.
Very creative. Not too realistic, though. I'd not hold up against either Miguel or Guido. Thanks for getting my bio details right, though. Most of what I did at Pixar was systems code, by the way. I guess it took systems code to get the work done, but I am by no means a graphics pro.
Patch is by Larry Wall. Fetchmail is by Eric Raymond.
When we did the Debian dependency-based package system, there was a lot of new work not in any Unix. RPM came later and copied Debian, you know. I mentioned Electric Fence before - as far as I can tell it embodied an invention. There are lots of others.
Bruce
You're not thinking it through.
on
Men of Zeal
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How do you heal people in the hospital without first studying in the library?
What point is a healthy life of book-burning slavery?
Right. I have thought about it for a while since I saw your note. It doesn't really fit with the rest of the essay. I think he was really stretching to find a quote there.
Open Source wants to be INCLUSIVE. BSD/X11/Artistic/insert fav licence that is open/GPL *ALL* qualify as Open Source
Sir. I hate to throw water on your argument, but I am the primary author of the official definition of Open Source. The other authors were a bunch of Debian developers. When we wrote the thing, it was called the Debian Free Software Guidelines. Open Source was proposed about 6 months later. At the time we finished the DFSG, Richard Stallman approved of it. As far as I can tell, it's a definition of Free Software licensing.
Free Software as defined by the FSF before we came along with the DFSG and OSD also includes more than just the GPL, the other licenses you mention are free software too, although they are not necessarily compatible with each other.
This is a complicated area and I suggest a bit more study.
Thanks
Bruce
Re:I'm getting tired of this...
on
Men of Zeal
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· Score: 2
In my experience, people generally get what they want if they try hard. Burying yourself in pessimism is self-defeating, and it sounds as if that's what you may be doing. I've been on the hiring side, and I saw lots of companies recruiting just last week. If you aren't getting the jobs, it's not because they aren't there.
I don't think there would be much job security in working for a company that isn't making a profit.
Please go back and read what I wrote. I didn't say the company wasn't making a profit. I said that the Open Source developers were operating as a cost center. Most companies have profit centers, which make money, and cost centers, which provide essential services to the profit centers. If you can save $1 from continuing overhead in a cost center, it's as good for your company as making $1 in a profit center - that's $1 they would not have had otherwise, either way.
Nobody is forcing you to give away your code, unless you consider competition a form of forcing you.
Thanks
Bruce
Re:Software Freedom is more important than you thi
on
Men of Zeal
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· Score: 2
Certainly I am not putting myself in the way of a bullet on a regular basis for my beliefs. To that extent it is a lesser moral crusade than Gahndi's, certainly. But then, I'm not standing for the Nobel Peace Prize. We all serve as we can. But I think it's both moral and a crusade, nevertheless.
Nobody has yet come up with an explanation of why it is that "The Community" has never, once, come up with a major original piece of work
Because that's not true. For example, I released my first free software, Electric Fence, around 1988. The principle in that program could have been patented if I'd wished, and is in fact mentioned as prior art in at least one patent, filed by ATT.
If you think we are slavish copiers, you're just plain wrong. Even though Linux, for example, had a published API to model, there are many improvements to the art in its source code.
Bruce
I'm not anonymous, though.
on
Men of Zeal
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· Score: 2
Certainly you can get my phone number out of my web pages or host records, and call me any time you want to discuss one of my postings. I often wish everyone operated that way.
Yes, I am not entirely consistent in this. But it is mostly because I consider that Free Software and Open Source mean the same thing, and have worked that way from day one of the Open Source initiative.
Bruce
Re:I'm getting tired of this...
on
Men of Zeal
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· Score: 2
Please look for examples. There are so many of them. I get paid, ESR gets tons of stock, RMS gets a salary from FSF and even does consulting gigs once in a while, etc. Many companies are paying the salary of Open Source developers who operate as a cost center - reducing the cost for the company if they are not making a profit. Look at the Linux job bulletin boards. Look at all of the companies in the LinuxWorld exhibitor index - most of them are hiring!
I am really not sure that you need tireless diligence to evangelize. There are some "let's use Open Source where it works" evangelists within companies, I hesitate to call them zealots but they are effective.
One nice thing about this plan is that it lets you choose. Want to run unstable? Do so. Otherwise choose testing or stable.
I like that nobody else has to make that decision for you. I personally run unstable almost all of the time, and it works great for me, but my secretary runs stable.
Bruce
Re:Mixing (L)GPL and non GPL compatible code
on
IBM Releases SashXB
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· Score: 2
Mitchell Baker, the attorney who manages the Mozilla project, is working to get as much under the GPL as possible. In some cases, authors have to be contacted and have to sign something, which can take time. In the end, anything that can't be dual-licensed will have to be written out.
Slashdot Mirror
Bruce
Systems Use and Privacy
In order to facilitate communications and business operations, the Company uses a number of devices, objects and systems. This includes but is not limited to mail, e-mail, telephones, desks, common areas, cabinets, files, computers, networks, passwords, voice mail, etc. Access can be made by the company to any or all of these items or systems at any time. Employees should not assume that contents of messages are confidential and will be only reviewed by the employee.
The Company does not guarantee the security of the Company's systems, computers or telephones. If you need to communicate in a secure fashion, do it outside of Company buildings and without using any Company equipment or facilities. We employ technical experts who are able to read your computer data and tap your phone.
Members of the executive staff, the employee's supervisor, or another employee at the direction of a member of the executive staff, may access, monitor and act on any message or communication or data in any system at any time and may view and consider and act on the contents of any item provided for use in the normal course of company business.
None of this, however, conveys authorization for any employee to eavesdrop. The email, files, and other communications of your co-workers are not your business and you are to avoid situations that would expose you to them unnecessarily. "Snooping" is unethical and you are liable to be terminated if you engage in it.
Our systems are never to be used for pornography, email spam, ethically questionable or unprofessional activities. Internet service is widely available outside of the Company at low cost. Do not consider us to be your "Internet provider": our Internet facilities are only for work. Internet communications that are not part of your job should be carried out using an outside internet provider, a non-Company email address and non-company URLs.
In a nutshell...this means don't be doing nasty or illegal things in the office or on our networks. Respect the fact that your co-workers have access to information on the network and the computers and they would like to be able to respect you in the morning. The Company reserves the right to inspect information and work environment at any time, with or without notice
No Personal Businesses On-Site
It is understandable that many of the Company employees are entrepreneurs and may have one or more companies or separate enterprises, outside of their interest in the Company. It is our desire to nurture and respect the mindset of the entrepreneur. However, under no circumstances shall any employee of the Company run their own company at or through the Company. The use of the Company resources to conduct said business is strictly prohibited. All such enterprises shall be conducted completely off-site and shall not in any way be connected to or interfere with the normal operation of the Company
It is understood and accepted that occasional phone calls will need to be made or taken with regard to personal business. However, there shall be no routine phone calls. There shall be no connections with your personal enterprises and the Company. You are not authorized to use computers, addresses or other Company property, licenses or identification numbers to conduct your personal enterprise. In addition, you shall not use to the advantage of your personal enterprise any business information acquired on the job, at the Company.
Thanks
Bruce
The patents look a lot like some things that went on in the early days of computer graphics. At the NYIT computer graphics lab in the late 1970s and early 1980s, we had Genisco frame buffers connected to the Unibus through an adapter we made that had address-processing capabilities using the Genisco processor to handle bus transactions. We did DMA to this device from scanners, and to film recorders, in ways that seem similar to the patents. Probable authors would be Lance Williams, Garland Stern, Alvy Ray Smith, Ed Catmull. The only question I have is what we published about this way back then.
Bruce
I've been hearing this story for 10 years. Parts of it have never made sense. But it doesn't go away. But then again, the Area 51 story is complete hooey and it doesn't go away, either.
Bruce
The bat-signal thing is cute. However, my office phone number is 510-558-1133, call any time. This information is in my web pages, in fact there is a downloadable vcard with phone numbers at www.perens.com . Email to bruce@perens.com isn't always answered (I get busy) but is always read.
Thanks
Bruce
Yes, we could have some fun with publicity about this one.
Thanks
Bruce
Thanks
Bruce
Bruce
Bruce
Tee hee. They don't even know where to find a leader of the Open Source movement :-)
Thanks
Bruce
When we did the Debian dependency-based package system, there was a lot of new work not in any Unix. RPM came later and copied Debian, you know. I mentioned Electric Fence before - as far as I can tell it embodied an invention. There are lots of others.
Bruce
What point is a healthy life of book-burning slavery?
Thanks
Bruce
Bruce
Sir. I hate to throw water on your argument, but I am the primary author of the official definition of Open Source. The other authors were a bunch of Debian developers. When we wrote the thing, it was called the Debian Free Software Guidelines. Open Source was proposed about 6 months later. At the time we finished the DFSG, Richard Stallman approved of it. As far as I can tell, it's a definition of Free Software licensing.
Free Software as defined by the FSF before we came along with the DFSG and OSD also includes more than just the GPL, the other licenses you mention are free software too, although they are not necessarily compatible with each other.
This is a complicated area and I suggest a bit more study.
Thanks
Bruce
I don't think there would be much job security in working for a company that isn't making a profit.
Please go back and read what I wrote. I didn't say the company wasn't making a profit. I said that the Open Source developers were operating as a cost center. Most companies have profit centers, which make money, and cost centers, which provide essential services to the profit centers. If you can save $1 from continuing overhead in a cost center, it's as good for your company as making $1 in a profit center - that's $1 they would not have had otherwise, either way.
Nobody is forcing you to give away your code, unless you consider competition a form of forcing you.
Thanks
Bruce
Thanks
Bruce
Because that's not true. For example, I released my first free software, Electric Fence, around 1988. The principle in that program could have been patented if I'd wished, and is in fact mentioned as prior art in at least one patent, filed by ATT.
If you think we are slavish copiers, you're just plain wrong. Even though Linux, for example, had a published API to model, there are many improvements to the art in its source code.
Bruce
Thanks
Bruce
Yes, I am not entirely consistent in this. But it is mostly because I consider that Free Software and Open Source mean the same thing, and have worked that way from day one of the Open Source initiative.
Bruce
Bruce
Thanks
Bruce
I like that nobody else has to make that decision for you. I personally run unstable almost all of the time, and it works great for me, but my secretary runs stable.
Bruce
Thanks
Bruce