Why Microsoft should reveal SQL Server code

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Shared Source != Open Source

Sorry John, this sentence is false: " Microsoft?s shared source efforts aren?t automatically a different planet from the rest of the open source world." Shared source is not Open Source.

There's only one definition of Open Source and that's the one from the OSI. There's a wonderful list over there at opensource.org of what qualifications software must meet to be considered Open Source. The very first condition is this:

"The license shall not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software as a component of an aggregate software distribution containing programs from several different sources. The license shall not require a royalty or other fee for such sale."

See that last sentence? The one barring royalties? That disallows all of the Shared Source licenses, including the one for Windows CE, from being labeled Open Source. There are other ways specific examples of the Shared Source licenses violate both the letter and spirit of Open Source:

"The program must include source code, and must allow distribution in source code as well as compiled form."

"The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the program is redistributed without the need for execution of an additional license by those parties."

"The rights attached to the program must not depend on the program's being part of a particular software distribution."

Until Microsoft corrects these and other deficiencies; they should not use the term Open Source or open source to refer to their licenses. As a responsible and responsive commentator, who has earned my respect since our earliest days on ZD-Net; I'd recommend that you not try to equate the Open Source and Shared Source either. Be responsible, go to opensource.org and read their highlighted article on why shared source isn't, and never will be, open source.

Posted by: John Le'Brecage   Posted on: 02/28/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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