Is Python Free Software, free software, Open Source, open source, etc?
This probably isnt the correct list, but I really dont want to start a philosophical discussion - hopefully people here are both "in the know" and able to resist a huge thread :-) Especially given the recent slashdot flamefest between RMS and ESR, I thought it worth getting correct. I just read a statement early in our book - "Python is an Open Source tool, ...". Is this "near enough"? Should I avoid this term in preference for something more generic (ie, even simply dropping the caps?) - but the OS(tm) idea seems doomed anyway... Just-hoping-to-avoid-flame-mail-from-rabid-devotees-of-either-religion :-) Mark.
On Wed, 30 Jun 1999, Mark Hammond wrote:
I just read a statement early in our book - "Python is an Open Source tool, ...".
Is this "near enough"? Should I avoid this term in preference for something more generic (ie, even simply dropping the caps?) - but the OS(tm) idea seems doomed anyway...
It's not certified Open Source, but my understanding is that ESR believes the Python license would qualify if GvR applied for certification. BTW, you won't be able to avoid flames about something or other, and given that you're writing a Win32 book, you'll be flamed by both pseudo-ESRs and pseudo-RMSs, all Anonymous Cowards. =) --david
BTW, you won't be able to avoid flames about something or other, and given that you're writing a Win32 book, you'll be flamed by both pseudo-ESRs and pseudo-RMSs, all Anonymous Cowards. =)
just check the latest "learning python" review on Amazon... surely proves that perlers are weird people ;-) </F>
On Wed, 30 Jun 1999, Mark Hammond wrote:
I just read a statement early in our book - "Python is an Open Source tool, ...".
Is this "near enough"? Should I avoid this term in preference for something more generic (ie, even simply dropping the caps?) - but the OS(tm) idea seems doomed anyway...
It's not certified Open Source, but my understanding is that ESR believes the Python license would qualify if GvR applied for certification.
I did, months ago, and haven't heard back yet. My current policy is to drop the initial caps and say "open source" -- most people don't know the difference anyway.
BTW, you won't be able to avoid flames about something or other, and given that you're writing a Win32 book, you'll be flamed by both pseudo-ESRs and pseudo-RMSs, all Anonymous Cowards. =)
I don't have the time to read slashdot -- can anyone summarize what ESR and RMS were flaming about? --Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)
I did, months ago, and haven't heard back yet. My current policy is to drop the initial caps and say "open source" -- most people don't know the difference anyway.
and "Open Source" cannot be trademarked anyway...
I don't have the time to read slashdot -- can anyone summarize what ESR and RMS were flaming about?
the usual; RMS wrote in saying that 1) he's not part of the open source movement, 2) open source folks don't under- stand the real meaning of the word freedom, and 3) he's not a communist. ESR response is here: http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/writings/shut-up-and-show-them.html ... OSI's tactics work. That's the easy part of the lesson. The hard part is that the FSF's tactics don't work, and never did. ... So the next time RMS, or anybody else, urges you to "talk about freedom", I urge you to reply "Shut up and show them the code." imo, the best thing is of course to ignore them both, and continue to ship great stuff under a truly open license... </F>
"FL" == Fredrik Lundh <fredrik@pythonware.com> writes:
FL> imo, the best thing is of course to ignore them both, and FL> continue to ship great stuff under a truly open license... Agreed, of course. I think given the current state of affairs (i.e. the non-trademarkability of "Open Source", but also the mind share that little-oh, little-ess has gotten), we should say that Python (and JPython) are "open source" projects and let people make up their own minds about what that means. waiting-for-guido's-inevitable-faq-entry-ly y'rs, -Barry
participants (5)
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Barry A. Warsaw -
David Ascher -
Fredrik Lundh -
Guido van Rossum -
Mark Hammond