Re: Open-Source and programming style

[dewarr@my-dejanews.com]

In article <87ogq848xf.fsf@mihalis.ix.netcom.com>,
  Chris Morgan <mihalis@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> Andi Kleen <ak@muc.de> writes:
>
> > Regarding your assertion that big Open Source software
always have a fixed
> > spec because they're cloning something: good counter
examples are GNU emacs
> > and PGP (before it went commercial)
>
> This is true as far as it goes, however RMS made GNU
Emacs based on
> his experiences with previous Emacsen dating back to his
original
> version. It does seem then that GPL is a particularly
good fit for
> software which is well-understood by the people wishing
to develop
> it. Cloners in the case of some well-known GPL items, but
in many
> notable cases the original visionaries arrive at GPL
after experience
> with other schemes such as proprietary or other
"freeware"
> licenses. Perhaps GPL is the happy-hunting grounds where
programs go
> to be happy after having served their time being used to
wring money
> from users in previous incarnations.


This last statement by Chris seems completely bogus to me.
I can only think of counterexamples. Linux itself, which is
the culmination of RMS' vision of a freely distributed OS,
EMACS, GCC, GNAT, GDB etc.

-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/       Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own