Re:Emacs vs XEmacs -- NetBSD vs OpenBSD
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Feature:GPL vs BSD
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· Score: 1
There are several examples of where code forks in BSD projects have hurt. Emacs vs XEmacs is one example, and the split that created OpenBSD from NetBSD is another.
Er... Emacs and XEmacs are both GPL'd. I don't see that the BSD/GPL issue has any relevance to forks (except that you could look at the BSD license as an invitation to 'fork' off a proprietary product with no adverse consequences).
Gnome not working is another issue entirely - and it's another reason why I'm waiting for a.1 or.2 release to bother to upgrade my RH boxes.
If you go to the latest Gnome summary, it mentions a site that has precompiled RPMs of up-to-date Gnome packages for RH6.0. Apparently the latest stuff fixes a lot of bugs, so you might want to check it out.
I've done many many xfsdumps and xfsrestores without a problem. Plus it is SO much faster than tar.
I've seen it (xfsrestore) coredump lots of times on dumps with lots of little files. I was moving 20GB of data from one disk array to another, and had to fall back to GNU tar because xfsrestore kept crashing...
Well, I hate to disagree, but having run SunOs and Sparc Linux on the same hardware, I would say that SparcLinux is more reliable and faster.
True up to a point, but I don't think anybody will claim that Linux is the right choice for running Oracle or Informix on a 10GB 16-way E4500. A lot of work has gone into scaling Solaris up on really big systems. I personally think Linux will get there, but it's definitely not there yet.
Okay, now all we're waiting for is GNU Emacs and XEmacs to merge;)
I wouldn't hold my breath--rms seems to hate XEmacs and those involved with it with an unholy passion. I have a love-hate relationship with it myself (though I use it every day).
Can anyone sum up the differences between egcs and gcc and explain why they haven't been combined up until now? I believe egcs is Enhanced GNU Compiler Suite and I think it's the C++ version of gcc. At least I usually see it mentioned in association with C++ programs although I've never used egcs.
They are basically the same system (backend compiler engine with frontends for C, C++, Objective-C, F77 etc). EGCS was started by taking the current version of GCC and forking it with a 'bazaar' rather than 'cathedral' model. As a result it's progressed a lot faster in both stability and features.
The reason you hear a lot about EGCS in relation to C++ is that it's a much better and more modern C++ compiler than GCC.
UDP would be nice from a resource usage standpoint, but most firewalls block it out. I think HTTP should always be an option (is CDDB-over-HTTP subject to license restrictions?)
I like this too, because for those of us behind firewalls, it "just works" (assuming websurfing is allowed, which is generally true). Currently some of the CDDB-compliant apps support HTTP fetch, and some don't--makes it a pain.
They get "screwed" only in the sense that they make a ridiculous profit instead of an amazingly ridiculous profit. Their cost per call is miniscule, even considering the different usage patterns. Chalk one up to the lobbyists...
Yeah, what he said. Tax Software is something that, much as I love Open Source, will never be developed that way--I can't see anybody, least of a all a good hacker, wanting to keep up with all the tax law changes year by year without a per-copy profit incentive.
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Er... Emacs and XEmacs are both GPL'd. I don't see that the BSD/GPL issue has any relevance to forks (except that you could look at the BSD license as an invitation to 'fork' off a proprietary product with no adverse consequences).
-Doug
If you go to the latest Gnome summary, it mentions a site that has precompiled RPMs of up-to-date Gnome packages for RH6.0. Apparently the latest stuff fixes a lot of bugs, so you might want to check it out.
-Doug
I've seen it (xfsrestore) coredump lots of times on dumps with lots of little files. I was moving 20GB of data from one disk array to another, and had to fall back to GNU tar because xfsrestore kept crashing...
-Doug
Erk--my bad. I forgot that network & disk takes a slot. I'm more familiar with SGI boxen than Suns anyhow...
Doesn't invalidate my point though
-Doug
True up to a point, but I don't think anybody will claim that Linux is the right choice for running Oracle or Informix on a 10GB 16-way E4500. A lot of work has gone into scaling Solaris up on really big systems. I personally think Linux will get there, but it's definitely not there yet.
-Doug
Hmm, interesting interview. Hadn't seen that perspective on it before. Thanks.
-Doug
I wouldn't hold my breath--rms seems to hate XEmacs and those involved with it with an unholy passion. I have a love-hate relationship with it myself (though I use it every day).
-Doug
They are basically the same system (backend compiler engine with frontends for C, C++, Objective-C, F77 etc). EGCS was started by taking the current version of GCC and forking it with a 'bazaar' rather than 'cathedral' model. As a result it's progressed a lot faster in both stability and features.
The reason you hear a lot about EGCS in relation to C++ is that it's a much better and more modern C++ compiler than GCC.
-Doug
And the contradiction is where, exactly?
UDP would be nice from a resource usage standpoint, but most firewalls block it out. I think HTTP should always be an option (is CDDB-over-HTTP subject to license restrictions?)
-Doug
I like this too, because for those of us behind firewalls, it "just works" (assuming websurfing is allowed, which is generally true). Currently some of the CDDB-compliant apps support HTTP fetch, and some don't--makes it a pain.
-Doug
They get "screwed" only in the sense that they make a ridiculous profit instead of an amazingly ridiculous profit. Their cost per call is miniscule, even considering the different usage patterns. Chalk one up to the lobbyists...
-Doug
Looks like it's slashdotted again...
-Doug
Yeah, what he said. Tax Software is something that, much as I love Open Source, will never be developed that way--I can't see anybody, least of a all a good hacker, wanting to keep up with all the tax law changes year by year without a per-copy profit incentive.
-Doug