[linux-audio-user] Free Software vs. Open Source: Where do *you* stand?

[Rob]

On Mon February 20 2006 14:55, Pete Bessman wrote:
> So let's hear it!

When I was a kid, the notion that you shouldn't copy software 
other people had written was a new, and kind of absurd, notion, 
akin to the idea that you weren't supposed to make mix tapes out 
of your friends' albums.  I remember Bill Gates' open letter 
(though I only heard about it 3 or 4 years later, around 1980) 
decrying what he believed was theft and acting as kind of a 
manifesto of proprietary software.  What a jerk, I thought, back 
at age 11.  He's taking his ball and going home.

Obviously, despite being a jerk, that whole attitude worked out 
for him.  As for the rest of us, you had the people who just 
copied whatever they needed or wanted, and you had the Fans of 
Bill, who didn't really start showing up until the late 80's 
when BBSes started getting more extensively networked and then 
along came the net:

"If you keep copying software like that, no one will sell 
software anymore!"  Well, all right, we said, if they insist.

"So I can come to your house and take your car and you're okay 
with that?"  they'd ask.  No, we'd reply, but you're welcome to 
build yourself an exact copy of it the way I just did with this 
DOS 3.3 disk.  Good luck with that.

"Yeah, well, Microsoft wrote that, so they get to make the rules.  
If you don't like it, why don't you just go and write your own 
software and give it away?  Ha ha!"

But by golly, someone did.  A lot of people did.  And most of 
them put it under a license that turned the copyright hoarders' 
tactics back on them.  It wasn't good for much at first, but by 
about 1998 it was the best choice for web and mail servers, and 
soon after that it was the best choice for file and print 
servers, and by a couple years ago I didn't have to resort to 
any philosophical diatribe whatsoever to get people to put Linux 
on their racks of servers.  The desktop's another story, but now 
instead of "someday..." people are saying "as soon as...."

So basically, I started out believing copyright was stupid, but 
now I kinda like it because they're the ones who'd love to get 
their hands on the free stuff.... nonetheless, I'd still put 
myself in the free software camp when I'm not visiting a client.  
When I'm there, I'm all about what's the most practical and 
easiest to maintain and most cost-effective.... in the server 
room, that means Linux, and everywhere else I just try not to 
get involved (except to move apps to web/AJAX so there's one 
less reason to keep buying Windows licenses.)

As for me, I haven't had any pirated software on my machines 
since getting rid of my last Windows install some years ago.  As 
far as music goes, since I mostly work in the MIDI and 
pattern-based domains, when Linux has been lacking I've simply 
gone without.  Gotta be consistent, after all.

> WHAT is your NAME?

Robert Jude Kudla.

> WHAT is your QUEST?

To have some free time, unoccupied by worrying about projects or 
bills, so I can finally record the album plus worth of stuff 
I've been squirreling away in text files of lyrics and melodies 
hummed into my own voicemail.

> WHAT is your FAVORITE ALBUM?

Today it's Close to the Edge by Yes.  And I don't even have a 
fish outline on the bumper of my car.

Rob