tower@mit-eddie.UUCP (01/26/87)
rms asked me to post this followup to article <1026@botter.cs.vu.nl>
of ast@cs.vu.nl (Andy Tanenbaum). I apologize for the delay (I was
keyboard-less at USENIX for the last week ;-} ).
When Andy Tanenbaum announced his plans for MINIX, I told him that he
could certainly use any of GNU in MINIX, as long as he followed the
terms, which say that everyone must be able to redistribute it in any
quantity to anyone. Also, I said that if he produced something that
fit the GNU system and was suitably available, I would use it.
I don't think this was an antagonistic response.
But I wasn't interested in more than passive cooperation, for two
reasons.
One was that the technical goals were very different and I doubted
that any code written for one system would really be suitable for the
other. He planned a small system to fit the machines now common. I
am aiming for a more powerful system that people will prefer to 4.2 or
system V, to run on the next generation of machine. Each of these
paths has its advantages and disadvantages which I'm sure the reader
can see.
The other is that I doubted that MINIX would ultimately be available
on terms that would allow GNU to use it. I wasn't interested in
investing any effort on it until this doubt was resolved. Now
it appears the resolution is that GNU can't use it.
Meanwhile, Tanenbaum hasn't used any GNU software, perhaps because
some is too big for today's IBM PC's or perhaps because GNU copylefts
would not permit their distribution on Prentice Hall's terms.
I do not understand why Tanenbaum calls the GNU project "empty
promises". Several pieces of GNU software are already in
distribution, complete with fanatical admirers and detractors.
I think we have demonstrated that we can deliver what we promise.
There is no charge whatever for using GNU software for any purpose.
The Free Software Foundation charges for mailing tapes, but this is
not the same as a charge for the software on the tape. That is free,
and you can make as many copies as you like for anyone at all. The
Free Software Foundation is a tax-exempt charitable organization and
the money that tape distribution brings in is spent on the creation of
more free software. (None of it goes to me personally.)
The GNU C compiler will be released for testing soon. It compiles
itself, GNU Emacs and Monardo's free TeX-in-C successfully, so it is
not far from ready. And it will be free, with sources. (TeX-in-C is
still being tested; the Free Software Foundation and probably others
will distribute it by and by. There will be announcements.)
Further questions on GNU, GNU mailing lists, and the availability
of GNU software can be directed to gnu@prep.ai.mit.edu or
mit-eddie!prep!gnu or seismo!prep.ai.mit.edu!gnu.
rms (Richard M. Stallman) is directly reachable at
<rms@prep.ai.mit.edu>. Please realise that any time you spend
communicating with him will delay the delivery of GNU software, by the
time it takes him to read and reply.
happy hacking, -len tower
--
Len Tower, Project GNU of the Free Software Foundation
1000 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA +1 (617) 876-3296
HOME: 36 Porter Street, Somerville, MA 02143, USA +1 (617) 623-7739
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