FSF takes on Apple's App Store over GPL

FSF takes on Apple's App Store over GPL

Again, you're still thinking of "world domination". I personally don't care.

It's actually "fine with" me, too: it can only have the effect of increasing the desire of developers-in-general to go with non-GPL alternatives (e.g. clang—which Apple is pushing—and bionic—which Google is pushing—for starts) and to avoid the use of GPL-licensed code if they wish to put their efforts onto a platform—such as the iPhone—where they might actually see wide use.

Sure, Apple can push whatever they want. On my part I'm not interested in anything they make (too closed), and don't work on any Apple specific software. Some of it should build on OS X, but I don't offer support for it.

While is may be "fine" for some people, it's not (in my opinion) at all healthy for the "free software movement". If the software is as "free" as the FSF wants it to be, but no one to speak of uses it (think "The HURD"), would that constitute a "victory"...?

Linux has a large enough userbase for me, so I'm not really worried.

Again, I'm not interested in huge numbers for the numbers' sake. Any usage that goes against the GPL doesn't benefit me and doesn't count, even if that's a million users.

Seems a sort of a Pyrrhic one to me.

I consider it good, or worst case value neutral. My assessment is: Usage according to the GPL is +1, contrary to the GPL is -1 or 0 (depends on why), no usage is 0.

Therefore, in general, a change from infringement to compliance is excellent, and from infringement to non-usage somewhat disappointing but still an improvement.

Since I find all Apple platforms too restrictive to even consider supporting them, usage or lack of it is overall irrelevant. If it happens to work, good, if it doesn't I don't really care.