Re: [seul-edu] free software / open source

[Cameron Miller <cdmiller@adams.edu>]

Jeremy C. Reed wrote:

> On Mon, 17 Dec 2001, Tom Annis wrote:
> 
> 
>>The Free Software Foundation is also careful to make a
>>very important distinction between "commercial" and
>>"proprietary" software. "Commercial software is
>>
> ...
> 
> 
>>commercial software is proprietary, but there is
>>commercial free software, and there is non-commercial
>>non-free software." In plain English, "proprietary"
>>software is never "open-source" since you do not have
>>free access to the source code. Though the bulk of
>>commercial software is proprietary, "commercial"
>>software can definitely be open-source. The actual
>>price, if any that is charged to acquire the source
>>code is irrelevant. It is all about the code and
>>nothing but the code.
>>
> 
> A lot of people consider GPL'd code or content to be proprietary because
> you can't freely reuse it within closed (no source publically available)
> software.
> 
> GPL'd code is not open for all purposes.
> 
> 
>>This is my understanding of the GNU, but I welcome any
>>clarifications.
>>
> 
> Open source is good for encouraging peer review (which results in improved
> performance, usability, stability and security), and, in many cases,
> promoting standards. But, because the GPL license discourages many good
> programmers from using the code, it sometimes stops the true sharing of
> code (or ideas).
> 


My understanding is the opposite.  Source code under the GPL garuntees 
the ability to peer review and helps to keep open standards open.  All 
programmers, good or bad, have access to the code and thus the 
underlying ideas behind it.  This is the reason for the GPL, to ensure 
the availability of the source code and to help ensure the sharing of 
it's ideas.  If you wish to use code which is under the GPL for a 
commercial product then you also have to share. In this case the GPL 
discourages those who would use available code to do things like embrace 
and extend open standards or simply steal someone elses work and pass it 
off as their own.

- cameron

-- 
- cameron miller
- UNIX Systems Administrator
- cdmiller@adams.edu