> > Why is Linux so big? Why did IBM choose to invest billions in Linux, > > rather than some other free OS, such as FreeBSD, or even OpenBSD. > > >From what I understand, BSD was tied up in court with AT&T and not continuing > to be developed the same time that Linus found the FSF and Linux started > taking off. The book I read said (from the research the author did) that > BSD would be what Linux is today if it was not for the lawsuit. I think SCO > was hoping for the same slowdown of Linux when all this started.
But once again, the difference is the GPL. BSD would be in better shape
than it is now if it weren't for the lawsuit, but it wouldn't be the
same as Linux. Under the BSD license, people can take code without
contributing it back to the community. That's ok in a few cases (like
the TCP/IP stack; that's why TCP/IP is one of the more compatible
Microsoft components), but most of the time, a developer doesn't want
someone to bank off of their code.
People contribute to the Linux kernel (and GNU tools, GPL'ed window
managers, etc) because they know it will always be free. Even though
Stallman is a crazy lunatic, he is also a genius. The GPL rocks.
-Evan
P.S. I would write more but I'm actually going on a date tonight. I've
promised myself I wouldn't talk about Linux. Well, "much" that is...
--
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Evan McNabb: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
http://evan.mcnabbs.org
System Administrator, CS Department, BYU
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