On Wed, 20 Mar 2002 09:29:39 -0800 (PST), 
Alex Perry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:

> > > I totally forgot ....  Are you (Alex) using an Nvidia graphics
> > > board ?
> 
> Occasionally; the E-machines chassis I support for demo usage at LWCE
> SFO, for example, has a TNT2 card in it which runs FGFS under XF3 and
> Utah-GLX. The non-demo disk drive I use at home has the NV supplied
> driver, but I rarely actually use the console because I normally
> "Xnest" in from elsewhere.
> 
> > > O.k., as I remember you do not.
> > > But many pople on this list do. So
> > > there seems to be very little objection to using closed source
> > > software,
> 
> I have no objection to _using_ closed source software personally.
> I don't _support_ a collection of software that includes closed source
> unless my time is paid at full rate to do so.  It's too frustrating.
> In any case, my engineering preferences should have no impact on
> y'all.
> 
> > ..I have one objection:  on open source code, I can legally 
> > show the source code to anyone interested.  And, to FAA people.
> 
> For commercial products, that isn't a problem because the FAA
> oversight trickles through 'you' and interacts with NV directly.  The
> oversight people get to see however much source code as they need ...
> but you might not.

..exactly why and how closed source becomes un-usable for EAA people.  

> Remember, since this is costing NV time and money, they will expect
> you to cover their costs in this activity, and the associated
> paperwork hassles.

..agreed.  And they would put it on the sales price tag, so I 
can buy it FAA-sertified.  Which would be dumb of me as an EAA 
member, considering that I cannot do anything usable with it.  
As an EAA-member, I'd want to modify it to fit my newly designed 
plane.  With open source, I can.  Certification costs remains the 
same, but can be shared with the 1.1 mill. EAA membership, if I ask.
 
> > And, I can try to get it certified as airworthy in the same
> > fashion I can modify an auto engine for aero use and get it 
> > certified as airworthy, in the experimental or amateur-built
> > classes.  Legally.  Code based on FlightGear running on Linux,
> 
> That's certainly true; there are real advantages to being entirely
> open source when trying to get an STC or other airworthiness
> authorization.

.. ;-)

-- 
..med vennlig hilsen = with Kind Regards from Arnt... ;-)

  Scenarios always come in sets of three: 
  best case, worst case, and just in case.


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