One needs to realize that, currently OSS (specifically, GNU/Linux) is not targeted towards the typical computer user. If the government were to write their own open source operating system (presumably targeted towards the typical user), it would have a different audience, hence it would be a fundamentally different product. This could change Linux in ways I would not like to see.
Also, on a somewhat different note, this guy really doesn't know that much about software development. From my limited experience, Eric Raymond's distinction between The Cathedral and The Bazaar styles of software development hold true. If the government were to begin writing OSS, they would be producing a product written using the "Cathedral" style, which, again, would result in a fundamentally different product. Again, this is not something I would like to see.
On the plus side, I am guessing many avid Linux users and developers would agree with me, and Linux distributions targeted to more advanced users would still be around.
The potential disruption of internet service isn't what bothers me. Internet outages happen, they get fixed. This isn't about an internet outage. This is about censorship. Let's back up to June. ICANN approves the concept of an.xxx domain, but in August the Bush Administration steps in and, next thing you know, the Department of Commerce is telling ICANN to hold off on the.xxx domain. The US government felt the need to step in and restrict the flow of information online. This is censorship, nothing less. A precedent has been set. The internet has been censored. Two months later, everyone wants to get in on the action. Again, I am disgusted by the actions of the Bush Administration.
Slashdot Mirror
This hit digg 8 hours ago.
One needs to realize that, currently OSS (specifically, GNU/Linux) is not targeted towards the typical computer user. If the government were to write their own open source operating system (presumably targeted towards the typical user), it would have a different audience, hence it would be a fundamentally different product. This could change Linux in ways I would not like to see.
Also, on a somewhat different note, this guy really doesn't know that much about software development. From my limited experience, Eric Raymond's distinction between The Cathedral and The Bazaar styles of software development hold true. If the government were to begin writing OSS, they would be producing a product written using the "Cathedral" style, which, again, would result in a fundamentally different product. Again, this is not something I would like to see.
On the plus side, I am guessing many avid Linux users and developers would agree with me, and Linux distributions targeted to more advanced users would still be around.
The potential disruption of internet service isn't what bothers me. Internet outages happen, they get fixed. This isn't about an internet outage. This is about censorship. Let's back up to June. ICANN approves the concept of an .xxx domain, but in August the Bush Administration steps in and, next thing you know, the Department of Commerce is telling ICANN to hold off on the .xxx domain. The US government felt the need to step in and restrict the flow of information online. This is censorship, nothing less. A precedent has been set. The internet has been censored. Two months later, everyone wants to get in on the action. Again, I am disgusted by the actions of the Bush Administration.