Lotus Notes tuned for Linux

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No respect?

I really don't care much about the license for software. I want it to work, and I want to be able to afford it.

"Linux" can't have Open Source values; it is an operating system, not a person (or an A.I.), and doesn't have any values at all. The Linux development community is where the values lie. That community creates a product that is valuable, and which they provide freely to others whether or not those others share their values. Doing it that way is part of what makes them who they are. Suggesting a "requirement," even if only ethical, that an organization has to license *all* the software it provides under either the commercial or the free/open source model, *itself* violates the values of the open source community.

IBM's demand that Java be open source was based on the very real possibility (at that time) that Java could be sold and the promise to keep it free reneged upon. Millions of dollars of development costs by Big Blue would have gone down the drain. It was a calculated business approach.

Linux/Open Source/free software fanatics would be well served if reminded that the great majority of those who use Linux these days DON'T CARE if they have the source code to ANYTHING. So it should be hardly surprising if a fair number of us choose to run fully proprietary, closed source software on a fully open source operating system -- and aren't bothered at all by the theological considerations. It's part of the freedom that makes Linux attractive.

It is important to me that Linux is open source, because that is what it is. But each component of the systems I run is judged independently. Don't try to make me live in a "Big Blue state" *or* a "Red Hat state". I'll revolt. -- Darrell

Posted by: DarrellM   Posted on: 07/12/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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