Jim Self wrote:
> What we need now is an Open Source implementation of MUMPS.
If we had this, this discussion would be different. Public domain and
open source are two different things, so the problems with VistA are not
just that the interpreter is proprietary. Open source software must be
licensed. Public domain software is like water: you can put it in Coke
and sell it without crediting the well. But if there were a powerful,
industrial strength M/Mumps interpreter out there that was open source,
this discussion would be different. I've examined the alternatives to
Cache and they're all bogus in some way or other: either not open source
or non-existent. It's a strange situation. If I could make a suggestion
to the Hardhats and their merry band, I would suggest that creating a
M/Mumps interpreter is far more important than creating a dietary
sub-system, for example. Coding is fun, but it's also important. There
never should be only one solution to a problem in society. Ask
yourself, "What's going to happen to Vista?" Is it going to become an
increasingly lucrative franchise for one company? At society's
expense? Is this what the Hardhats want?
John Gage
