Hello, I came to the misc@ list from Journal links just to see what is the real discussion about RMS and OpenBSD. >From the start I have to tell the list that I'm sad. I have read sad things and now I think I should not read those things. In fact someone should put a waring label like "Read with caution" or "Rude language and affecting text inside".
Normally, I am just a common user of OpenBSD and I know that the project runs with some ideas and some peopel which I respect and I think they are good for the purpose of the project. What I will say next should be taken as an user feedback and nothing more. A. "License" thing Once I asked a lawyer why do people need lawyers in court since we have very clear laws state the rules for us. The man was in difficulty to answer, but eventually he tried and told me that the laws are not very clear like I used to think. Of course, the next question was why don't you make them clear... this way you know when some did something wrong and you know what the punishment is. This time the man was in real trouble answering me and he looked at me and said: "I really don't see what you are trying to find out, but what I've learned in school is that the law is always questionable. As a lawyer, it is your job to use it in your client advantage." Later, I found out that our human language is too weak to define laws in absolute and clear terms. Having this said, I have read the BSD licence. Basically I understood that you can do anything with the code, the only request is to put the copyright text inside the source code files. ( If what I understood is not right, maybe some details and examples can be added to the web page.) The GPL licence I never got with it to some understanding. I thing it is very confusing and I was lost in many DOs and DON'Ts. I don't know what GPL allows you and what it doesn't. Basically, I like an example with variations. Of course you need licences, but don't try to be so absolute on defining them because you can't. I think the same applies to "free", "open", etc. B. Including of non-free software As far as I know, the base of OpenBSD is clear from non-free software. Then we have the ports collection, the root of RMS frustration. As an OpenBSD user I saw a clear delimitation between the base of OpenBSD and the rest. I got this feeling from FAQ: i know that ports are not the goal of the project, they are not going thru the same audit, you will not have support . I got the collection almost as a different project. http://www.openbsd.org/faq/faq15.html I sense the ports as a help to manage using what you have. I never felt that OpenBSD is encouraging the use of non-free or propietary software. It was the contrary, the FAQ tells you somehow how the things are. But no sign of encouraging. C. The language I know that OpenBSD people are putting much effort and many things into the project and I think they know better what things should be done. But it is very hard for me to understand and to accept some of the comments I've read on the list. I know, maybe nobody will care but I have said this is just a feedback. Try to look back on your messages and re-read them. Awful. I don't know how this started, but what came next was just a cheap show. A show that I think it was very funny and welcome by the opponents of the open source projects. Both sides started to used stupid and out of context words. Nothing was achieved, just insults and no productive discussion. I think the pressure of working and maybe the New Year come generated this but I like to think you all can do more than this. More good I mean, not more discussions like this. I you felt that RMS did something not appropiate for the project, you should have him contacted in private and clear all the confusion. D. The PR thing >From what I know, OpenBSD is not doing a PR (Public Relation) thing, I mean there is no such a big activity to make OpenBSD popular like you can see on other projects. I got the idea that the OS is done for the developers own purposes, but if you like it you can use it and help in many ways. If RMS came up with some statements, then the proper answer should have been " Dear Mr. RMS, you are not so well informed about OpenBSD project .... please check this links ...". I got that as a good answer for my questions. Not to mention the RTFM thing. You say on FAQ that beginners questions will not receive so much help, that the man is your friend. What the hell? 15 days of messages just to answer a beginner-like question. That is not fair ! :-) Bytheway, after some research I'm stuck and I must ask something. But I think I will do this in a different post. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
