Re: [LI] Message from RMS.

[Dakshinamurthy Karra <kd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Atul Chitnis wrote:
> 
> Now there is no question that Linux has been successful because of its
> adoption by the corporate world, but if one plays by these rules, it is
> not possible to cater to them.
> 

Sorry no. Linux has been adopted by the corporate world because it is
successful. Because, it solved some of their problems. Because it
provided them a cheaper/stabler alternative to the products they were
using. Saying linux is successful because corporate adoption is putting
the cart before the horse.

My personal belief is that not contributing to a community from which
you gain something is unfair. GPL forces this, where as other licenses
make this optional.

> RMS's stand is that everything should be free software (i.e. source
> available) - a stand that Raymond is far more flexible on (he says that
> closed source apps are acceptable if the company chooses not to make
> source for their own stuff available for commercial reasons).
> 
I am not talking about the stands here (Though I tend to lean more
towards what RMS says). RMS could stand up and say NO to a few millions
for the sake of his beliefs. How many others we know did this?

Revolutions are made by people who are obstinate and who are willing to
sacrifise for these beliefs. No one can ever dispute the commitment of
RMS for what he believes. The only other person who comes to my mind is
Gandhi (Manoj mentioned it already, I believe).

-- KD