[Python-Dev] Is Python Free Software, free software, Open Source, open source, etc?

[Guido van Rossum]

> 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/)