[Novalug] Open Source vs Free Software

James Ewing Cottrell 3rd JECottrell3@Comcast.NET
Wed Sep 17 12:45:42 EDT 2008


"Black....and Blue...
And who know Which is Which
And Who is Who?"

I wrote to RMS and suggested he call it Freedom Software, to strike a 
chord with people, especially after 9/11.

It's a bit hokey, isn't it? But then again, America thrives on hokum.

JIM

P.S. Sorry about the delay in posting, but the 9/11 statement kinda 
makes it timely, don't you think?

Maxwell Spangler wrote:
> On Tue, 2008-07-15 at 18:32 -0400, Gregory Maxwell wrote:
>> It shouldn't be: The intention of most of the initial folks pushing
>> "Open Source", such as Bruce Perens, was that "open source" would be
>> functionally equal to free software.   The Wikipedia article(s) does a
>> really miserable job covering the history of the subject.
> 
> Using only the definitions of their respective organizations to define
> "Free Software" and "Open Source Software" I see very little difference
> between the two.  (This was a big surprise to me.)
> 
> I'm purposely ignoring the history, past definitions and people
> involved.  The ideas these organizations represent are more important
> than the personalities of Bruce Perens or Richard Stallman.  
> 
> What I'd like is for someone to demonstrate how they differ in the same
> style that one might demonstrate open versus closed.  Just show me the
> pros and cons and the situation should become apparent to me.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Novalug mailing list
> Novalug@calypso.tux.org
> http://calypso.tux.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/novalug
> 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
> Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.5.3/1563 - Release Date: 7/20/2008 12:59 PM
> 
> 
> 




More information about the Novalug mailing list