larry a price wrote:
> a. who whored out their mailing list?
I got one about 2 weeks ago... you don't by chance get the Linux Jounal do
you? I think they might be the culprits... bu tthen again, I'm on alot of
funky lists.
>
> b. now that linux is entering the marketing stream(or mainstream) will it
> survive what's going to be done to it? (we'll know for sure when AOL/Linux
> comes out)
Yes, it will... here's the secret to open-source software... it's written by
the guys who use it. It's a user-driven development process as compared to a
marketing-driven development process.... Applications exist because there's a
need for them to be there, however sligh or big... as more and more people
use the software, more and more programs get written and improved and added
to. Like that bottle of 1995 iceweine I have sitting on my wine rack, it
just gets better over time.
But, you have to remember, companies are users, too... so what will happen is
that there will be some business interests out there to move Linux in one
direction or the other... that's still good, IMO, because Linux/OSS is just
the shaping of whatever the needs of the users are...
As far as It businesses shaping OSS to mold to what they think it should be
used for... I think it's a great thing... they can throw energy and money at
the pet projects that they have and need. Remember, the software is for the
user... and the companies make money off supporting the user.
Where I envision (OK, my right-brain word for today..lol) the problem being
is when somebody extends the core software base and blatantly violates the
GPL by using GPL code and not releasing anything but executables... then you
have a problem because that software doesn't age, doesn't improve, doesn't
evolve with the demands of the users... it's up to the creator and where he
wants it to go. I don't see this becoming a problem because there is already
enough of an established pool of core applications that are free, and the
periphery stuff will be made again by somebody with a need to have that
software. In that way, there's pressure on the closed-source developers to
migrate to open-source after the viable commercial life of a product, ala
OpenOffice (nee StarOffice) and many others.
> c.since it looks like the (exploit the new new thing) vibe is out
> there; what are the best ways to divert the energy and enthusiasm that
> madison ave. will be whipping up over linux to the benefit of the
> community?
hmmm... now that's a tough one, and one where we (as EUGLUG) are on the front line, so
to speak... it's the secret to making it all work. I guess you could say we're a
support group, like alcoholics anonymous or something...haha. It's called
"grass-roots" for a reason, and I think we're close to finding out why in a big way.
That's just my $.02... feel free to disagree, folks...
--Mike
--
Organizing Linux users is like herding cats,
only harder.
