> >The key thing is that GCC was responsible for creating Linux. The other >programs would have been written if they didn't already exist. Since they >DID already exist, there was no point in wasting the effort to reinvent >wheels and these other programs were SUPPOSED to be free. Now we see that >there is a big giant string attached to using them. You can use them but >you have to attach the letters GNU/ to your system if you do. I simply >think it is in poor taste for Stallman to make this argument and this is >the first comment Linus has ever said even remotely near the issue in >public. Basicly he said that the GNU project is of little/no importance to >Linux and I agree. > >If the GNU project had been the first to bundle Linux with the other GNU >programs, they might have a claim. Since others simply grabbed the GNU >stuff because it was handy, RMS has no claim. The thing will probably >backfire in his face. In the desire to be truly free there has already >started at least one effort to port the BSD stuff. > >There is no use in arguing about what is the correct name, if you produce >a distribution, you are free to call it whatever you want. The problem is >that nobody should have the right to tell someone else what to name their >stuff. It is a freedom issue. I would have second thoughts about using >some "free" software and then have the people that "gave" me the software >try to dictate to me additional terms not in the license after the fact. >
Anything that is not in the license cannot be forced on you. All (I think) stallmann wants is a little recognition. A lot of people seem to think the world revolves around Linus, but without all of the thousands of people who've helped him, his kernel would be nothing but an lone experiment slowly disappearing as the floppies it was stored on degrade. The GNU stuff is very nice and very important, just like the kernel. If GNU had never existed I think linux would finally reach its current state around 2007. In the mean time I'd have no choice except MS2000 and Solaris x86. > > > >-- >Unsubscribe? mail -s unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] < /dev/null > > > _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com