Rewriting the GNU Coreutils in Rust

When someone asks me: whats the difference between BSD and GNU/Linux
distros? I say: first of all, GNU/Linux generally embraces copyleft to
protect your freedom and BSD doesn't. BSD distros also do some things
different, but I think the copyleft issue is more important. For some
reasons I think that, see
https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-copyleft.en.html.

> The Coreutils project was created to consolidate three sets of tools
> that were previously offered separately...

I think a better, more accurate summary is that coreutils was created
because the programs in it were essential for the goal of developing a
free software operating system protected by copyleft that could
replace Unix and do all that Unix could do.

> The uutils project aims to rewrite all of the individual utilities
> included in the GNU Coreutils project in Rust.

Again, I think a better summary is that uutils aims to replace GNU
coreutils and remove it's copyleft protections. They also try to make
some technical improvements by using rust instead of C. FSF enforces the
GPL on GNU coreutils, bringing and protecting freedoms for software
users. uutils aims to end that work.

The uutils maintainers do not want it framed this way, they seem to
highlight rust and treat the license as an unimportant footnote. The
authors of this article thankfully brought up the issue, but still in a
secondary way. I understand that some people don't care much about
copyleft or software freedom. I want to convince them that they should
care. I hope someone forks uutils and makes new contributions under
GPLv3+, which then applies to the entire program when users receive
it. Then I hope the maintainers of that fork work with a nonprofit like
FSF or Software Freedom Conservancy to enforce the license, because the
copyright holders have the exclusive right of enforcement and they
probably won't have as much dedication to doing it as those nonprofits
(especially after they die, since copyright lasts far beyond most
people's deaths). And because those nonprofits will enforce them in
community oriented ways that prioritize users' freedom
( https://www.fsf.org/licensing/enforcement-principles ).