Re: Release plans

[dhruva]

Hello,



----- Original Message ----
> From: Alan Mackenzie <address@hidden>
> To: Richard M. Stallman <address@hidden>
> Cc: address@hidden; address@hidden
> Sent: Tuesday, 5 August, 2008 12:38:30 AM
> Subject: Re: Release plans
> 
> Hi, Richard!
> 
> On Mon, Aug 04, 2008 at 11:33:34AM -0400, Richard M. Stallman wrote:
> >     To be honest, I wouldn't do that either if somebody suggested it to
> >     me.  But if you did try this, you might then be a bit more
> >     sympathetic to those who percieve that type of software to be
> >     modern, efficient, and OK.
> 
> > I sympathize fully with appreciation of convenient software..  What I
> > refuse to sympathize with is the failure to appreciate freedom even
> > more.
> 
> Lots of people can't appreciate freedom because they don't understand it.
> To a large extent, they're people who've never suffered constraint, or
> haven't noticed it.  A mob of such people is dangerous indeed.
> Education, sympathetic or not, is the best thing here.
> 

From my limited understanding of the complex free/freedom in software, it 
attracts only the real hackers. Not everyone wants access to the source code 
when they cannot modify it. Not everyone is a hacker and cannot be a master in 
all tools and applications. I would love to use free software where I know 
enough to be able to make the changes I want and contribute back to the 
community. In areas where I know nothing but have to use something to get my 
work done, I really look for the simplest to deploy, use and cost effective (in 
the same order). From the philosophical perspective, I do understand and accept 
that embracing free software in spite of a functionally better proprietary 
alternative is good for the community. Practically, I doubt whether that is 
sustainable in the long term when it keeps coming in the way of getting my job 
done.
IMHO, what we need is real good organized paid support to free software where I 
can demand support for a feature I have paid. A slightly less restrictive 
licensing to paid users wanting to develop proprietary software using the free 
software. More corporates would then use free source than what is happening 
currently. At work (in corporates), people are just scared to use free source 
under GPL! Therefore, they keep using more proprietary software and building on 
top of it. Is it possible for FSF/GNU to setup something for paid users? I hope 
something comes out in the near future. Pushing free software in corporates 
would be a big step forward and that will attract larger user (and hopefully 
contributors) base.

-dhruva



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