[Cross-posted to LD]
>>>>> "Raj" == Raj Mehta <Dr.> writes:
Raj> [1 <text/plain; us-ascii (quoted-printable)>] Hi
Raj> -}>Microsoft plans to share Windows code with India
Raj> I didn't realize that the flames under Microsoft-India
Raj> were THAT hot!
Raj> -}> Microsoft is virtually doing the unthinkable in India, it
Raj> is planning to -}> share the Windows source code. Not with
Raj> one and all, as Linux does, but -}> with a specific
Raj> government body which, in turn, will share it with -}> others
Raj> for the purposes of e-governance and education. Microsoft has
Raj> -}> already made a proposal to the ministry of information
Raj> technology for -}> sharing the Windows source code with one
Raj> government body.
Raj> The unmentioned potential trap is still "Gags" about
Raj> flaws. There is a LOT of pressure to gag people who find
Raj> flaws in ANY software. That still undermines the
Raj> infrastructure.
Raj> M$ shares the code but imposes gags -- i.e. prevents the
Raj> people who see the code from making the flaws public. They
Raj> can only tell to M$. It is hardly of any use as they more or
Raj> less control what and when it is fixed. The idea of sharing
Raj> the code is so that everyone wanting to use ... in this case
Raj> India know what are the issues and how to tackle them with
Raj> M$....
Not being able to fix the flaws is admittedly a major drawback when
requiring source code for an application or operating system. Not
being able to enhance the product, remove unnecessary features and add
one's own features are other drawbacks.
However, the real danger in Microsoft's shared source programme is not
any of the above.
Please be very careful when making any kind of equation between
Microsoft's shared source programme and the better-known Free/Libre
and Open Source Software model. The latter (free software) permits
the exchange not only of source code but also of ideas, the building
blocks of any successful product. Microsoft's shared source
specifically prevents precisely that. Once you have seen Microsoft's
source code the ``shared source'' license prevents you from ever
coming out with a product that looks like, acts like or competes with
the MS product whose source code you saw. As Eric Raymond points out
in http://lwn.net/2001/0712/a/esr-viral.php3 , the viral-ness of the
shared source license puts the GPL to shame.
Regards,
-- Raju
Raj> [snip]
--
Raju Mathur [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://kandalaya.org/
It is the mind that moves
================================================
To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with unsubscribe in subject
header. Check archives at http://www.mail-archive.com/ilugd%40wpaa.org
