ESR: lost in the S/N ratio [LWN.net]

ESR: lost in the S/N ratio

Posted Jul 1, 2005 18:13 UTC (Fri) by bajw (subscriber, #11712)
Parent article: ESR: 'We Don't Need the GPL Anymore' (O'ReillyNet)

I know that as a user of software, I am now to the point where I try to run exclusively GPL'd software when I have a choice. Other Free Software licenses are what I consider "second best", though I will affirm that the BSD systems are attractive to me, and I do use and support them.
The only place I use unfree software is at work, on computers I don't own. (Unfortunately, this is one...)
I'm not a developer, so my opinions may differ a bit from the opinions of many developers, but those are my choices as a user.
Sad to say that ESR has sunk below the background noise level for me, and doesn't provide a signal I care to bother with any more.

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ESR: lost in the S/N ratio

Posted Jul 1, 2005 20:12 UTC (Fri) by flewellyn (subscriber, #5047) [Link]

I am a developer, and I have to say that I agree. Although, since the code I write is used to provide web services (and thus not "distributed"), the license isn't quite so important; I make use of free software under both GPL and BSD/X11 style licenses.

ESR does seem to excel at missing the point entirely these days...perhaps we should find another self-appointed leader of the "open source" movement?

ESR: lost in the S/N ratio

Posted Jul 1, 2005 22:44 UTC (Fri) by Quazatron (subscriber, #4368) [Link]

I agree with you. I'm also a user, and to me the GPL means the the software I use won't just die like proprietary software when the company bites the dust, it will be maintained in some form or other.

BSD is nice, but mostly benefits the *software companies* that leech all the good code while giving back nothing. GPL makes sure the software evolves and that is surely a benefit to all the *users*.

As for ESR, my guess is that he is now seeing the subject from the company's point of view, not from the developers/users point of view, so yes, we lost him.