On Thu, 11 Apr 2002, Shane Williams wrote:
> A name change might bring people to question why the group bothered to
> change it, and maybe learn that the idea of the GPL was one of the
> critical factors in the success of linux.
My original point, and the basis of my opposition to Stallman's
tactics [1], is that neither the GPL nor GNU software are the critical
factors in the success of Linux. GNU software was a critical
***component to the development*** of Linux. If GNU had made Linux what
it is, this would likely be the SIGHurd list. A robust, fast-moving,
scalable & extensible kernel made Linux. A fanatic, intelligent,
skilled and loyal user/developer base, willing to write or just test
code for free under a variety of Free licenses, made Linux.
It is arguable, by the numbers, that the Apache License and Apache
itself, are the key factors ofg Linux's worldwide success. A stable,
powerful, and Free suite of web-service tools literally bought Linux's
entry into the enterprise market. I've never heard anyone insist that
we should be Apache/Linux.
Furthermore, the GNU project and the GPL had been around for years
when Linux was born, and noone outside of the sysadmin lists had ever
heard of it. AFAIK, in 1991, no software written outside the GNU
Project was licensed under the GPL. With the advent and growth of
Linux, Free Software and GNU became common terms, and more importantly,
the GPL became a _considered_ _option_ in licensing software uotside of
GNU, and even outside Unix. I can't prove that Linux made that happen.
I will claim that the trend is a damn close parallel, and that in any
case, GNU owes Linux as much as Linux owes GNU.
[1] I absolutely do not oppose a name change by this group, as long as
it's a group decision. I adamantly oppose the Stallmanites' tactics in
trying to force the issue. I think it's blackmail, and it has greatly
lessened the considerable respect I had for Richard M. Stallman.
Doc
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