Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 14:47:32 -0700 From: Doug <Doug@gorean.org> To: Shigio Yamaguchi <shigio@tamacom.com> Cc: hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: GNU GLOBAL Message-ID: <37E40874.976C5523@gorean.org> References: <199909181348.WAA02472@tamacom.com>
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You state that you have made up your mind about this decision, so I won't try to persuade you otherwise. I do think that there are some things that you should think about though. Shigio Yamaguchi wrote: > > I'm the author of GLOBAL source code tag system. > > I have decided to release next version of GLOBAL as a GNU software. > It means that it will be released under GPL instead of BSD license. Have you consulted an attorney about this decision? Are you sure that you understand everything that this decision means? Do you realize that by going with the GNU license you seriously hurt any chances you might have of ever making any money off of your product? > This decision was made by practical reason, not by doctrine reason. > It is advantageous for GLOBAL, because > > o GNU softwares are distributed to widespread environments. I can't argue with this point. However with the growth of popularity of the various *BSD's, that market is becoming more "widespread" as we speak. [snip] > That makes it easy for GLOBAL to reach the goal, that is, becoming > a common source code tag system in various environments. Hmmm... Well if your goal is to have a lot of people using your product, in the short term going GNU is probably right. However, if you achieve your goal, but your software is under the GNU license, what does that get for you? > Since FreeBSD already includes GNU softwares, it seems no problem. > GLOBAL itself will be as it be. I agree with the previous poster that our stated goal is (and should be) eliminating as much GNU licensed software from the FreeBSD base as possible. To my (albeit limited) knowledge nothing in the base depends on GLOBAL, so I would be one of those who would be calling for its removal from the base. Of course, a port of your program would be welcome, and in fact if you are already settled in this decision you should start working on a port now and beat the crowd. > I'm concerned about whether or not FreeBSD community accept GNU GLOBAL. > I hope you not to reject it, because the rejection splits GLOBAL and it > makes it hard for GLOBAL to be a common source code tag system. But that's YOUR goal. Our goals are different, and the GNU license interferes with the goals of the FreeBSD project. Unfortunately we have come to the point in time where those in the GNU camp have as their stated goal the destruction of all other types of software licensing. It is sad that people who should be working together to create the best tools possible instead have to waste time with rhetoric and political maneuvering. However, things are what they are. The likelihood of being accepted by the GNU people is much smaller if you use a BSD license. At the same time, by using a GNU license you prevent the BSD people from accepting you at all. Of course, at this point in time such things as gcc are necessary evils, however as already stated many of us are working on making them less necessary. Your tool isn't "necessary" for anything at all at this point, therefore it's easily disposed of. I am sorry if my words sound harsh or argumentative, because that is not my intention. For all I know, you product could be the best thing since sliced bread. However the current state of the political aspects of software development is what it is, so we are better served by not ignoring it. Good luck, Doug (who speaks only for himself) To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-hackers" in the body of the message
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