David Coppit wrote:
> Frequently I hear people say "Mozilla is not an end user application".
> Most often this is in reply to people asking about spell checkers for
> mail/news.
>
> Well, why not?
Because being an end-user application involves packaging, advertising
and (most importantly) support, none of which mozilla.org is able to give.
> Binaries are being released, and "end users" are using them. And from
> what I can see, there aren't large notices that say "Warning: these
> binaries are only meant to test the Mozilla code, and are not meant to
> be used by non-developers (end users)".
There are. Right at the top of http://www.mozilla.org/releases/, it says:
"We make binary versions of of Mozilla available for *testing purposes
only!*. We provide no end user support."
> If someone were to develop a copyright/royalty/patent free spell checker
> for Mozilla, it would be incorporated, right?
If the code were licensed under a mozilla.org-approved license, and
passed review and super-review, yes.
> So to imply that features
> like spell checking aren't on the radar isn't quite right,
Well, from the large amount of heat and tiny amount of light on the
issue, I'd say it's not on the radar.
> and probably
> hinders Mozilla's ability to eventually gain world domination by
> addressing common needs of end users. ;)
This is a common misconception. Mozilla is not about world domination,
or even web domination, despite what the anti-Microsoft crowd would have
you believe. It's about providing excellent technology to companies who
want to fight that battle. But mozilla.org is not in the front line.
Gerv
--
People killed in WTC tragedy (approx.): 5,000
People who die every day of starvation: 24,000
Each of those deaths is more preventable than one caused by a terrorist.
So when does the Western World declare war on hunger, disease and poverty?
