What is Digg?2 Comments
- sgbeal, on 03/24/2008, -0/+1Even if we remove the "free as in beer" part (you're right - it's not part of the definition and i will update the post to reflect that), my position still holds - that the GNU definition of Freedom is fundamentally in conflict with the common definition/understanding of the word.
"You aren't required to release your code under the GPL unless it is derived of GPL code"
that's not entirely true - if you link to GPL code, you're forced into the GPL, and in turn any projects linking to your code, and projects linking to that code (ad nauseum) are then bound by the GPL. Bound. The opposite of Free. We can of course argue the fine details of "derive" until the cows come home. - Remmy, on 03/24/2008, -0/+1Incorrect. GNU is Free as in Freedom. Not free as in beer. The GPL gives you an unalienable right to copy, distribute, and modify source code. A price tag is irrelevant. You can sell anything licensed under the GPL. The stipulation is that you must also distribute the source code. You aren't required to give it away for free. However, the person buying it may redistribute it at no cost.
This sounds unfathomable to a developer who is selling his wares, but the idea behind it is that if you have released a product that the world will find useful, they will pay for it. The reason this path isn't widely adopted is simple. Most developers would make their code available for the masses so it can be improved upon and would rather accept donations than demand a purchase be made.
The GNU project is more about philosophy being realized through general practice. You aren't required to release your code under the GPL unless it is derived of GPL code, therefor the freedom still lies in the developers hands. This means that Free Will is intact.
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