gumby@Gang-of-Four.Stanford.EDU (David Vinayak Wallace) (12/23/89)
Date: 22 Dec 89 05:16:08 GMT From: jb3o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jon Allen Boone) If FSF and the GPL had been around when Unix was being developed, then granted, Unix source would be available and there would be free versions of a generally nifty os for as many computer types as we could find geeks to port it to. However, if this had been true, then the FSF would have no reason to exist - the GNU project would be purposeless. Remember - GNU's Not Unix - it's a replacement for Unix. Please do not be so `ethnocentic' as to presume that unix is the be all and end all of software, and hence that the FSF need be coextensional with the GNU project. Currently the FSF has only one project, GNU, but need that be true? Unix is unfortunately very popular; hence it's a natural piece of software to liberate. One could imagine a strong FSF beginning a project on, say, a distributed networking environment. They are currently rather oriented towards practical stuff, but research isn't inconsistent with their charter.
jb3o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jon Allen Boone) (12/23/89)
gumby@Gang-of-Four.Stanford.EDU (David Vinayak Wallace) writes: > Please do not be so `ethnocentic' as to presume that unix is the be > all and end all of software, and hence that the FSF need be > coextensional with the GNU project. Currently the FSF has only one > project, GNU, but need that be true? Unix is unfortunately very > popular; hence it's a natural piece of software to liberate. I do not presume that unix is the end and be all of software. That's why i siad "a generally nifty os". The FSF is free to pursue as many projects as they can allocate time/resources for. However, had things been different with Unix, it is less likely that the FSF would exist today - after all, i believe that the FSF is there to provide an alternative, not to enforce a standard for everyone. If they are planning on world-domination(tm), then my claim is invalid. > One could imagine a strong FSF beginning a project on, say, a > distributed networking environment. They are currently rather > oriented towards practical stuff, but research isn't inconsistent with > their charter. No one claimed that it was. Just like no one claimed unix was the end all be all of software. Simply put, howver, the FSF literature states that UNIX was chosen to be the os due to its immense popularity among academia, etc. therefore, if a GNU-like unix already existed, who, other than the founders of FSF, is to say whether or not it would exist today. iain the flippant | You'll PAY To Know What You REALLY Think | jb3o@andrew.cmu.edu(INTERNET) | Your MIND Left Intentionally Blank | R746JB3O@cmccvb(BITNET) | SCIENCE DOES NOT REMOVE THE TERROR OF THE GODS| disclaimer: anything I say may be wrong - I don't represent anyone but me