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I think you are missing something here ...
This situation was prompted by BitMover (the company that produces BitKeeper), not by Stallman or the FSF.

1) FSF has ALWAYS opposed the use of BitKeeper. But Linus has welcomed its use since it has been with the agreement that it be supplied to the kernel team without charge.

2) BitMover has now decided that they will no longer supply BitKeeper to the Kernel team on this basis. Therefore Linus really has no choice but to look for another alternative.

3) The reason that BitMover has given for taking this action is that the kernel hackers were 'reverse engineering' their product. Actually the reverse engineering they were referring to involved extending certain features of BitKeeper to meet the needs of the kernel team, in other words customizations. So now, they have decided that rather than risk external customizations on their commercial product, they would prefer to risk having to deal with a free, competing product. Thats their choice which they have a right to make. This, in and of itself, is indeed no victory for free software. But like all other indespensible tools, the free software community will rapidly find a way to create an even better product for free distribution. And that will be a victory for free software. Not a victory over BitMover, because BitMover is not an enemy of free software. The problem is not at all a religious one, its a matter of the lack of an available tool, and the free software community would prefer to create one, rather than to buy one, and that is their privilege.
Posted by: George Mitchell   Posted on: 04/09/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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You know what they say...  NonZealot | 04/08/05
Oh heck Linus is having a midlife crisis  Squawkbox | 04/08/05
Let the work start on an open source replacement for BK.  DonnieBoy | 04/08/05
BitKeeper is a key tool for the kernel developers ...  George Mitchell | 04/08/05
Yes, with what BK did, this will attract some of the best.  DonnieBoy | 04/08/05
BK will be gone within a year.  Xunil_Sierutuf | 04/08/05
How do I convert to CVS?  spritzydog | 04/08/05
Not surprising  NonZealot | 04/08/05
I totally agree with u..  Kamakazii | 04/08/05
No, it is just that we can not have one company holding us hostage.  DonnieBoy | 04/08/05
I think you are missing something here ...  George Mitchell | 04/09/05
No, sounds more like...  doe_z | 04/08/05
Bite the hand that feeds you  osreinstall | 04/08/05
No, it is that Linux trusted him and was betrayed.  DonnieBoy | 04/09/05
Your logic is flawed  osreinstall | 04/09/05
Really, so many benifit from Linux, this is cooperation at its best.  DonnieBoy | 04/10/05
Not really.  B.O.F.H. | 04/09/05
Yes really  osreinstall | 04/09/05
I get the impression you have little experience in systems (or Unix).  B.O.F.H. | 04/09/05
Gratitude escapes you guys  osreinstall | 04/09/05
You are a history revisionist now?  B.O.F.H. | 04/09/05
I can tell by your post that your a know it all. - NOT!  osreinstall | 04/09/05
it's a source code revision system, that's all  hipparchus2001 | 04/10/05
Your analogy is wrong  osreinstall | 04/10/05
copy?  hipparchus2000 | 04/10/05
Another one with convient vision  osreinstall | 04/10/05
osreinstall, you really need to get a clue!  B.O.F.H. | 04/10/05
The process has to benefit all or I am against it.  osreinstall | 04/10/05
You are welcome to give up your freedoms!  B.O.F.H. | 04/10/05
And another salvo  osreinstall | 04/10/05
Corporations are interesting entities!  B.O.F.H. | 04/10/05
And so are you  osreinstall | 04/10/05
Proprietary software vendors have a choice ...  George Mitchell | 04/09/05
Everyone has a choice  osreinstall | 04/09/05
Choice when it comes to operating systems is a new innovation ...  George Mitchell | 04/09/05
Some choice  osreinstall | 04/09/05
Re: Some choice  George Mitchell | 04/11/05
There were choices that you didn't like was more like it  osreinstall | 04/11/05
You seem confused  hipparchus2001 | 04/10/05
You seem dishonest  osreinstall | 04/10/05
How GPL software devalue proprietary software if GPL software not as good  hipparchus2000 | 04/10/05
Another one that cant see it.  osreinstall | 04/10/05
Look whatever, you haven't addressed ANY of my points  hipparchus2000 | 04/10/05
Another one that cant see the whole picture only GPL matters  osreinstall | 04/10/05
There's nothing in the Bill of Rights etc called "Intellectual Property"  hipparchus2000 | 04/10/05
Nice try Guy  osreinstall | 04/10/05
source pollution  hipparchus2000 | 04/10/05
Re: Pollution  osreinstall | 04/10/05
Simply the facts ...  George Mitchell | 04/11/05
It's just a source repository  hipparchus2000 | 04/09/05
Breaking free  ManyEyes | 04/09/05
What I still hear here...  Omch'Ar | 04/10/05
I've got to say, I'd never use something like this  hipparchus2000 | 04/10/05
A new alternative to BK  b_rahul | 04/11/05
Come ON!  mork451 | 04/13/05

What do you think?

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