🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <9103212328.AA01645@cygnus.com> tiemann@CYGNUS.COM (Michael Tiemann) writes:

> Why does everybody have to wait for RMS to do something with free
> software?  Why can't people take more initiative...enough that they
> don't depend only on one person.

Okay, I make mods and send them on to FSF who says, "Not what we want,
chuck 'em."  And then when a new release is made I have to go back
and make the same mods all over again.  There should be some way
to make it easier to globally incorporate changes to the software.
No, I don't have any ideas.  Yes, I know about Cygnus.

> >	   This brings up a another "hot" topic: the "timelyness" of FSF
> >   software.  I'm worried that the world will pass by the FSF.

> I'm worried about a related problem: the "timeliness" of people's
> recognition of how they are allocating their resources.  I'm worried
> that too many people will miss too many opportunities just waiting for
> others to do their work for them.

See above.

> >	   I'm sure that I am not alone when I say that I support the FSF, and
> >   that I really appreciate what they are doing.  However, the incredibly
> >   slow rate of software development is nearly unbelievable (I like to
> >   think of it as "legendary").  I realize that part of the problem may be
> >   beyond the control of the FSF, but the two biggest offenders are GNU
> >   Emacs and Bash.  Those people who follow the Bash saga will know what
> >   I'm talking about.

> I don't really know.  I've been running bash for about a year, and I
> love it.  Occaisionally somebody replaces my bash with a newer
> version, but since I've never had a problem (well, more than one), I
> don't find out until it comes up in conversation.  Of course I'm not a
> power bash user, so perhaps my perspective is not that important.

I have found at least 5 bugs, 3 of which I have found and fixed, and
2 more which I just get around because I chased them for a couple of
hours and couldn't dedicate any more time to.  I'm not a power bash user
either, but I found 5 bugs!  Some were incredibly fundamental to even
running it!  I can't believe that others haven't had the same problems
so I haven't bothered reporting them. I guess I was wrong and so I
will report the bugs now.  The lack of documentation for Bash is
rediculous as well.  I love bash, even with its problems, but support
for it has been bad at best.

> >	   I'm not trying to insult the developers of GNU Emacs or Bash -- I
> >   really appreciate what they are doing.  However, I would appreciate it
> >   if the FSF would take MUCH MORE CARE with announcing schedules.  It's
> >   very, super, incredibly, unbelievably annoying when a developer says
> >   that program "X" will be released in a couple of weeks, and then months,
> >   or even years, pass by.

I agree

> FSF has very little control over an amazingly large problem.  When you
> consider that their total annual income is probably less than $1M,
> that they are a non-profit organization, primarily devoted to serving
> hackers by sharing with them, you'll realize just how unimportant the
> needs of company X or company Y can appear.

What about that FSF?  What IS your total annual income, both in dollars
and donations of equipment?  Are you really making so much less than
the rest of us in the land of profit?

> Michael

> Disclaimer: I work for a company that cares how company X and company Y
> are having their needs met by free software.

Just goes to show you a bit about the ideals of RMS.  The free software
that is supposed to be a help to everyone can be expensive to a few.
Cygnus charges up to $100,000.00 for support for one set of tools (like 
gdb, gcc, g++) on a platform.  Cygnus cares about company X and company Y
because you make your living at it.  Would you do the same job for free?

I have no beef with Cygnus.  I like what they are doing.  I just think
that free software as spoken of my RMS is not really so free.  What's
your salary, RMS?  (You'll probably say none of my business.)  BTW,
I like the software that FSF provides and I try my best to support FSF.

Sorry if I have insighted any flames.  Please restrain.

Cary
--
_______________
Cary Petterborg					   (801)582-5847 x6446
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp.  Simulation Division   SLC, UT 84108
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