No future in proprietary software (ZDNet) [LWN.net]

No future in proprietary software (ZDNet)

Posted Dec 5, 2002 1:09 UTC (Thu) by coriordan (guest, #7544)
Parent article: No future in proprietary software (ZDNet)

The software world owes Stallman a huge debt of gratitude.

Without him, none of use would be logged into our GNU/Linux boxes that
we love so much and we wouldn't be reading lwn.net. If people don't heed
his words we will find ourselves back where we started. We're already
sliding down the slippery slope.

SourceForge is a good example. They shouted "OPEN SOURCE" from the roof
tops. People accepted their compromise values. Now the code behind the
site is closed source and only runs on IBMs close sourced database.

What's next? will people use Intels closed source compiler? Will they
use Borlands closed source Graphical toolkit?

Without the GPL (and friends), GNU/Linux is just Microsoft Windows with
a 10% speed increase and better stability. Free Software won't go away
but to have developers and commercial support it needs users who care.

The world would be a *much* better place without proprietary software and
pharmacutical patents. No economical benefit can justify them. Companies
will always find ways to make money, humans will always find ways to
discover and invent new technology.

A lack of patents, or as Stallman suggested elsewhere, a 3 year limit on
patents would force companies to either compete based on providing better
service or keep publishing new discoveries. Win - win.

Ciaran O'Riordan

(Log in to post comments)