Not wanting to got too far, but how about some formatting to to better construct the argument? Plus, it is easier on the eyes- especially online.
Sorry if the original was better formatted. The Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) approach to system development has a rich history from the beginnings of the modern computer age. The GNU/Linux operating system was developed by a group of people interested in creating an operating system that retained important user and developer rights, such as the right to modify the software. Like Freedom of Speech, these rights are important to retain, but are not usually invoked by the majority of users. No one person or entity owns the Linux/GNU operating system. It is used by virtue of a GNU General Public License (GPL) which stipulates that the source code (human readable) of the project must be available at no additional cost to users. Most GPL'ed source code is delivered along with object code (computer executable) for free or nominal cost of the recordable media that contains it. The value of open source initiatives comes from the dynamic interplay of users helping each other solve unique and common problems with shared computer code writing duties. All parties benefit from this collaborative approach which has more in common with health research than proprietary software. Because the United States must develop a solution that any health provider anywhere in the country can exchange information with any other provider, the FOSS approach can yield superior results by avoiding problems of trade secrets in proprietary software and the weaknesses of using open-standards only. John >-- Original Message -- >From: "Bruce Slater" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <openhealth-list@minoru-development.com> >Subject: Re: Urgent need for open source author/editor and references >Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 21:23:26 -0500 >Reply-To: openhealth-list@minoru-development.com > > >Thanks Ignacio for those edits and additions. >Anyone, >Any thoughts on a larger published work either in peer-reviewed or >web-published? >Bruce >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Ignacio Valdes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <openhealth-list@minoru-development.com> >Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 8:38 PM >Subject: Re: Urgent need for open source author/editor and references > > >> The Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) approach to system development > >> has a rich history from the beginnings of the modern computer age. The > >> GNU/Linux operating system was developed by a group of people interested > >> in creating an operating system that retained important user and developer > >> rights, such as the right to modify the software. Like Freedom of Speech, > >> these rights are important to retain, but are not usually invoked by the > >> majority of users. No one person or entity owns the Linux/GNU operating > >> system. It is used by virtue of a GNU General Public License (GPL) which > >> stipulates that the source code (human readable) of the project must be > >> available at no additional cost to users. Most GPL'ed source code is >> delivered along with object code (computer executable) for free or nominal > >> cost of the recordable media that contains it. The value of open source > >> initiatives comes from the dynamic interplay of users helping each other > >> solve unique and common problems with shared computer code writing duties. > >> All parties benefit from this collaborative approach which has more in > >> common with health research than proprietary software. Because the United > >> States must develop a solution that any health provider anywhere in the > >> country can exchange information with any other provider, the FOSS >> approach can yield superior results by avoiding problems of trade secrets > >> in proprietary software and the weaknesses of using open-standards only. >> > ***** Art, Information, and Ceramics. http://www.john-norris.net *****