free software?

Ben Finney ben at benfinney.id.au
Thu Jul 19 00:50:31 UTC 2007


On 19-Jul-2007, Oleg Verych wrote:
> | I don't call Linux "Free Software". I haven't called it that for  
> close to
> | ten years! Because I think the term "Open Source" is a lot better.
> `--<alpine.LFD.0.98.0706141153550.14121 at woody.linux-foundation.org>--

Whether Linus chooses to refer to "free software" has no effect on 
whether it *is* free software. Its recipients all have the essential 
freedoms like any other free software, therefore it is free software.

Linus can call a horse a hamster if he chooses, it doesn't change the 
nature of the thing. Nor does it mean others should stop calling a 
horse a horse.

-- 
 \     "[T]he question of whether machines can think [...] is about as |
  `\     relevant as the question of whether submarines can swim."  -- |
_o__)                                               Edsger W. Dijkstra |
Ben Finney <ben at benfinney.id.au>
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