Trust and Zeal in Open Source Advocacy (O'ReillyNet) [LWN.net]

Trust and Zeal in Open Source Advocacy (O'ReillyNet)

Posted Apr 23, 2005 16:23 UTC (Sat) by neoprene (guest, #8520)
Parent article: Trust and Zeal in Open Source Advocacy (O'ReillyNet)

"Ever since the seedling that was free software and open source began to propagate through the early tunnels of the internet, extensive sociopolitical analysis has been aimed at defining the open source community."

The essence of Linux/FOSS is the POWER of choice, and not to be ruled by the whims of Corporate Interests.
Common Interests and Corporate Interests stand diametrically opposed.
The Common Interest have no use for Corporate Profits, they are source of them. Corporations, if they are smart, can use Linux to enhance their profits and as a side-benefit also release GPL code for Common Use. While Linux has grown up to be a useful business tool lets not get sucked into thinking that the Linux/FOSS community are the servants to the Corporate Interests. Telling other people of the benefits of Linux/FOSS is much better than getting Corporations to adopt it.

These pundits wishing "the Linux community" to "do this" or "do that" forgets this all the time. Yes, commercial operating systems and applications can be better, they absolutely should, for what they charge. Linux/FOSS sets a lowest bar for minimum acceptable performance, [i.e. pay only for apps (and OS) whose performance respectably exceed Linux/FOSS, which of course will be a moving target].

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