On Fri, 1 Dec 2000, John Tapsell wrote:
Peter Gerwinski wrote:
It is important that everyone is heared and can contribute, but we must be very careful with this. There are far more promoters of "Open Source" around (or of proprietary software, for that matter) than people who have really understood Free Software. When it comes to elections - who do you think will get more popularity?
The trouble is, if we push FSF as being different from Open Source, do we run the risk of confusing people? I see your point about elections, but at this point in time, does it make that much difference between OS and FSF? Don't get me wrong, /I/ feel I understand both, and the views of both, but do Joe Public need to see the dividing line between OS and FSF?
Well, actually I thought I had seen my share of OS/FS, but apparently not enough, as I don't see the huge difference. I just went back to check, and these are my results (just as I had thought):
the following ist taken from: http://www.fsf.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
"Free Software" is: The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0). The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2). The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
the following is taken from (only the headers, the text is mostly pretty much obvious): http://www.opensource.org/osd.html
The Open Source Definition 1. Free Redistribution 2. Source Code 3. Derived Works 4. Integrity of The Author's Source Code. 5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups. 6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor. 7. Distribution of License. 8. License Must Not Be Specific to a Product. 9. License Must Not Contaminate Other Software.
Now roughly checking: freedom 0 is covered by 6 (and 5 perhapts) freedom 1 is covered by 1 and 2 freedom 2 is covered by 1, 8 and 9 freedom 3 is covered by 1, 2, 3 and 7
Please don't gag me on the details, this is just at a first glance.
I know what _I_ mean when talking about OS/FS, and I don't discriminate between the two. The above seems to justify this. To me the point is, everyone can look at it, change it, and it is ensured through licensing that my and derived work stays that way.
(That was not easy without using neither "free" or "open" :-))
So, please, I do not know the difference. I do not want to engage in flame wars, bitter dogmatic fights or anything similar. I _honestly_ don't see the difference. As someone else asked before, could we please clarify on this point?
I hope I don't step on somebody's toes because they have _yet again_ to explain to someone the obvious. If that's the case I apologize, but otherwise I am eagerly looking forward for your opinions,
ciao
Alexander Braun Laser Laboratorium Göttingen Hans-Adolf-Krebs-Weg 1 37077 Göttingen
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