🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1989Jul13.064156.8613@ceridwen.uucp> lhe@sics.se (Lars-Henrik Eriksson) writes:
>During several years I was responsible for the administration and
>operation of a large timesharing system with several hundred users.
>The bugs were innumerable. Often the bugs compromised system security
>or were great obstacles to the users of certain programs. Since we
>didn't have sources we hade to wait for the company to answer our bug
>reports (which could take half a year, or so) or debug and patch the
>binaries.  We often had to resort to the last alternative, unless our
>friendly field service rep. gave us the sources illegaly (which he
>quite often did, when we needed them).
1. Why don't you name the vendor so we all know who we're talking about.
2. I'm very sorry you have had so much trouble.
3. Having the sources is no real solution to the large turnaround
time for bug reports. Everyone is losing valuable time figuring out
how buggy programs work, patching and probably introducing 2 bugs
for every 1 you fix. You will agree that a customer is best served by
fast patches from the company itself. Some companies try to give you fast
support (Apollo's hotline). I guess it is not yet enough.

>It is Stallmans express opinion that selling intellectual achievements
>is immoral, haven't you read the real GNU manifesto? (I must say that
>I sympathize strongly with him on this point)

Yes but ofcourse I have read the GNU manifesto. Haven't you read
my manifesto. So selling intellectual achievements is immoral.
Suppose I write a novel. What to do: copy it and give it away for
free. Suppose I a nice piece of hardware, very fast very efficient.
Build it and give it away to anyone who likes it?
I guess Stallman isn't quite of this world (especially not the US
world). Bit stuck in the sixties???

>
>But you see, right now they can get better tools for free! As for the
>question of support, it is Stallmans intention that support of GNU
>could be offered by independent companies, just as many companies
>offer hardware support for other manufacturers equipment. Sound
>completely reasonable to me.

There is a big advantage to a market for software. The advantage
is that a lot of small and medium firms develop software they think
people will like and sell it. This way a lot of software is available
and yes you have to pay for it. I don't suppose you work for free do you?
How lomg will I have to wait before GNU gives me a nice dtp tool. How long
before ...
I really don't see why software is something entirely different than hardware,
literature, music, etc. You create something and give it to other people
who pay for it. It is called capitalism and we're living in the middle of it.


Mart van Stiphout
Eindhoven University of Technology
Dept. of Electrical Engineering -- Room EH7.34
P.O.Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Email: mart@euteal.ele.tue.nl