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

[Doug Loss <drloss@suscom.net>]

owner-seul-edu@seul.org wrote:

> From: "zeruch [Joseph Estevao Arruda]" <z@vasoftware.com>
> To: seul-edu@seul.org
> Subject: Re: [seul-edu] free software  / open source
>
> I think the crucial difference is that:
>
> 1. "Open Source" does mitigate the ambiguities and baggage associated
> with the word 'free' in English
> 2. Free Software implies a normalized series of statements that supports
> a moral component that the OSI does not.  Frankly, I have always
> preferred the pragmatism of ESR (OSI) to the high-mindedness of RMS
> (FSF), and for basically the same reasons that I don't feel anyone has
> the right to tell me how I should feel about something.  Telling someone
> what their moral convictions should be is something I reserve for
> missionaries and televangelists. You don't tell me how to chosse my SW
> licenses, I don't tell you how to buy soap. ;)
>
> z
>
> Odile Bénassy wrote:
>
> <deletia>
> > Moreover, free software actually *has* to do with freedom.
> >
> > And be very careful : "open source" happens to be used by bigger
> > software companies to cover their some of their bad commercial practice
> > like using nice people from the developers "community"  to debug their
> > commercial software for free... and still taking all licence advantage
> > to themselves leaving nothing at all to the nice helping "community" guy
> > !
> >
> > This is one reason why you would better say "free software"
> > (of course these bad practice cannot be done with "free software")
> > cf
> > http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-for-freedom.html#newinnovember
> >
> > > Recently somebody claimed there are differences in princple
> > > between the two expressions: 'free software" would stand as
> > > defence of freedom of programmers and users, 'open source'
> > > would merely point out technical/economical advanges of 'free'
> > > programs.
> > >
> > > Why should one believe that statement as a matter of fact?
> >
> > cf above
>
> --
> Joseph Estevao Arruda   |       www.vasoftware.com
> Corporate Alchemist     |       www.sourceforge.net
> VA Software             |       www.linux.com
> z at vasoftware dot com |       www.freshmeat.net
> +1.510.683.6730         |       www.osdn.com




--
Doug Loss                 All I want is a warm bed
Data Network Coordinator  and a kind word and
Bloomsburg University     unlimited power.
dloss@bloomu.edu                Ashleigh Brilliant