From: danielce@mullian.ee.mu.OZ.AU (Daniel AMP Carosone)
Subject: Linux Standards (was: Stabilizing Linux)
Followup-To: gnu.misc.discuss
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1992 00:47:18 GMT

+------(David Boyce)----------------------------------------
| 
|     Anyway, this seems, to me at least, to solve everyone's problems:
| the hackers can go on hacking and acquiring new software as quickly
| as they can ftp it, the "users" buy the CDROM or floppies. The
| "Keep Linux FREE!!!!!" contingent will sleep better at night knowing
| those commercial vendors are doing some work for their money,
| the vendors get exclusive access to the non-internet community,
| and those who have ftp access get the best of both worlds
| by being able to ftp the CDROM bits for "free". And those of
| us on c.o.l who have opinions galore but lack either the time
| or the talent to contribute anything else, can get to work
| on wrangling over the LID.
|

Thankyou. This is an excellent suggestion. And well put.

Even ignoring the factions and parties building releases, it is an
excellent idea to have a standards document to which releases must
conform rather than a release to which the standard must conform.  I
have not been following the discussions on the Linux Standards list, I
wonder if the current efforts there are this ambitious? This is surely
the best place to direct followup conversation on this matter.


+------(David Boyce)----------------------------------------
| 
| To summarize: issuing releases is an incredible drag. Especially
| the ones after the first. The problems are caused by the requirements
| of paying customers. Thus, I think the burden is best left to
| those who have said customers. Let them also take charge of when new
| releases are required, release nomenclature, packaging, etc.
| Since Linux is freely distributable, we can "steal" their work
| right backs for our purposes.
|

Cygnus seems to be doing quite well. And the world is doing quite well
out of Cygnus, in pretty much exactly the way you describe above.
Anyone who has built gcc, gdb, libg++, or any of the number of other
GNU programs that come with the Cygnus `configure' script can attest
to this (especially if you are on a known system). 

All of this is not only within the limits of what is allowed by the
GNU Copyleft -- it is sound proof of one of the basic tenets of the
philosophy behind it: You don't need to force people into restrictions
on how they use software (or any information) in order to make money
from it. 

What many people miss is that GNU is an alternative economy for the
software industry, not an alternative to the software industry.

I've actually been wondering whether or when Cygnus will pick up
Linux, perhaps they're working on it, perhaps they are waiting for
some more development, quite possibly they are too busy with the
wealth of other Free Software. They are certainly aware of Linux, and
must be considering taking it up. Commercially-minded people take
note.

Followups on this matter, as always, to gnu.misc.discuss. The headers
for this article point there.


One other point: In all this discussion, we have been referring to the
aims and rules of the GNU copyleft. While the license conditions for
Linux are the same as for the GNU copyleft, they have not always been.
The original license conditions forbade any money to change hands over
Linux. (perhaps in those early days Linus thought it wasn't worth the
money? :-) And copyright is held by Linus, not by the FSF. We should
abide by the aims of The Grand Wizard Torvalds, out of respect and
gratitute if for none of the other good reasons.

May one presume that if Linus has any objections to what someone is
doing with his work (and, by proxy, the work others have contributed)
he will make them known and clear? If he does have some objection, and
that is not heeded, he is free to change the terms of the License for
later releases if he deems it necessary.

Followups on this issue are pointless, unless Linus wishes to make
some statement.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Daniel AMP Carosone.      email: danielce@ee.mu.oz.au     snail: 37 Wandin Road
Computer/Software Eng,      IRC: Waftam                         Camberwell 3124
University of Melbourne.    Vox: +61 3 882 8910                       Australia

Newsgroups: comp.os.linux