[Novalug] [Ma-linux] [FOSE] Starting the discussion

[Varol Okan]

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Serge Wroclawski wrote:
> On Sat, Oct 04, 2008 at 02:10:11PM -0400, greg pryzby wrote:
>> FLOSS is fine. In the term though, is it free beer or speech (I don't
>> know anymore as I haven't kept up with the political stuff).
> 
> Well Greg, you've been in the community since 1994 and you haven't figured it out yet, I guess I'll try once more and hope that you get it.
> 
> Free Software is about freedom, as in free speech.
> 
>> As an aside a point I made was, solutions that solved problems were
>> important to show. How you did was discussed after the viewer agrees
>> the solution works for them.
>>
> 
>> My experience is most people don't care the detail (implementation) of
>> the solution. Instead,
>>
>> Does it work?
>> Does it meet my requirements?
>> How much does it cost ($ now for product rolled out and running)?
> 
> Professionally, from the time I've known you (1997-now), it's my understanding you've been in either a consulting or sales role though, so that's to be expected. People 
> who are going to someone with wallets open are often looking for someone to solve thier problem for them, anyway and anyhow.
> 
> And of course there's no diachotomy here. People interested in freedom can are /are/ interested in solving practical problems, that's why it's the Free Software people 
> doing the dirty work like working on the low level guts of the system like gcc, glibc, shells and so much else of the ugly guts as well as working hard to create a Free 
> flash player (Gnash). I don't know how much more practical you can get than rolling up your sleeves and solving problems.

Serge, remember when people used to have train sets to play with. No one
really did it to instill freedom in other people, but the motive most of
the time centered around hobby, fun and relaxation.

As the author of an GPLed SW I did it not mainly to give people free
speech source code, I did it to follow my interests and talents.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for FLOSS, however as a user of FLOSS SW I
am interested mostly in usability. So yes, I do uses closed source
codecs/driver if I have to.

So when you say every one in the FLOSS community did it ONLY to support
freedom, I think you can count me out. I did it mainly to solve a
personal need, follow my hobby and enjoy, relax while doing some
productive things for every one to use.

Also I think what you consider 'dirty work' I would consider a real
interesting field. C'mon, gcc, shells, memory management ... These could
be my personal play grounds. That I chose to get a bit higher level does
not mean I mind getting my 'hands dirty' to solve a need on lower level
'stuff'.

And again while I would choose GPL2 or GPL3 it should not be taken as an
indication of my 100% support of FLOSS philosophy, but rather as a
returned favor. So you do not speak for me when you state "People
interested in freedom". That is only one part of my motivation to write
GPLed SW.

Now that said I am grateful FLOSS and people defending it. I am just
opposed to the radical view of black vs white, good vs evil, FLOSS vs
closed SW.

Varol :)
> 
> - Serge
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