🚀 go-pugleaf

mathew@mantis.co.uk (en font terrible) writes:

>I don't use GNU products unless there is no alternative.  However, I feel
>obliged to point out that if people who spend their time writing GNU
>software were to spend their time writing free software instead, everyone
>could benefit.

I know everybody else is commenting on this paragraph, but just to
throw in a real life example:

The NOS (KA9Q) TCP/IP program is not under the GPL.  Alpha Micro (an
obscure computer company which makes computers which run a proprietary
operating system, AMOS) ported it to their system.  They released an
executable version only, without source.  Their version had several
annoying bugs in it (it crashed after an hour or so, for example,
requiring the system to be rebooted (this is less painful than
rebooting under Unix, but more painful than MS-DOS)).  Reported bugs
were simply filed, since they weren't interested in pushing the
program.

I was finally able to talk them into giving me the source as a test
case for my port of gcc which they were considering distributing (they
are, in fact, now distributing it as the standard compiler).  I was
able to fix all the bugs snatching a few hours here and there, and
have added several new features (mostly AMOS specific).

NOS is a great program, but I suffered because it was not put under
the GPL (and because Alpha Micro was stupid, but most computer
companies seem to be).  Since I gave my fixes back to Alpha Micro,
everybody who used it suffered until I got the source.

When you're discussing libraries or something like BISON, there are
problems with the GNU License; I personally support it, but I somewhat
sympathize with the counterarguments as well.  When you're discussing
general utility programs, I think the GPL beats public domain hands
down.
-- 
Ian Taylor                 ian@airs.com                 uunet!airs!ian
First person to identify this quote wins a free e-mail message:
``Hagenbeck sent a special expedition to Lake Bangweolo; unfortunately
  this expedition did not even find the lake.''