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www/philosophy words-to-avoid.html
|
From: |
Richard M. Stallman |
|
Subject: |
www/philosophy words-to-avoid.html |
|
Date: |
Sun, 29 Dec 2013 13:46:48 +0000 |
CVSROOT: /web/www
Module name: www
Changes by: Richard M. Stallman <rms> 13/12/29 13:46:48
Modified files:
philosophy : words-to-avoid.html
Log message:
Rewrite "CloudComputing" and "SellSoftware".
Add "SaaS".
CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html?cvsroot=www&r1=1.172&r2=1.173
Patches:
Index: words-to-avoid.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /web/www/www/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html,v
retrieving revision 1.172
retrieving revision 1.173
diff -u -b -r1.172 -r1.173
--- words-to-avoid.html 6 Dec 2013 00:38:13 -0000 1.172
+++ words-to-avoid.html 29 Dec 2013 13:46:47 -0000 1.173
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@
| “<a
href="#RAND">RAND</a>”
| “<a
+ href="#SaaS">SaaS</a>”
+| “<a
href="#SellSoftware">Sell software</a>”
| “<a
href="#SoftwareIndustry">Software Industry</a>”
@@ -146,44 +148,43 @@
<p>
The term “cloud computing” (or
just <a name="Cloud">“cloud”</a>, in the context of
-computing) is a marketing buzzword with no clear meaning. It is used
-for a range of different activities whose only common characteristic
-is that they use the Internet for something beyond transmitting files.
-Thus, the term is a nexus of confusion. If you base your thinking on
-it, your thinking will be vague.
+computing) is a marketing buzzword with no coherent meaning. It is
+used for a range of different activities whose only common
+characteristic is that they use the Internet for something beyond
+transmitting files. Thus, the term spreads confusion. If you base
+your thinking on it, your thinking will be confused.
</p>
<p>
When thinking about or responding to a statement someone else has made
-using this term, the first step is to clarify the topic. Which kind
-of activity is the statement really about, and what is a good, clear term for
-that activity? Once the topic is clear, the discussion can head for a
-useful conclusion.
-</p>
-
-<p>
-Curiously, Larry Ellison, a proprietary software developer,
-also <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13953_3-10052188-80.html";>
-noted the vacuity of the term “cloud computing.”</a> He
-decided to use the term anyway because, as a proprietary software
-developer, he isn't motivated by the same ideals as we are.
+using this term, the first step is to clarify the topic. What
+scenario is the statement about? What is a good, clear term for that
+scenario? Once the topic is clearly formulated, coherent discussion
+is possible.
</p>
<p>
-One of the many meanings of “cloud computing” is storing your
-data in online services. That exposes you to
+One of the many meanings of “cloud computing” is storing
+your data in online services. In most scenarios, that is foolish
+because it exposes you to
<a
href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/25/hackers-spooks-cloud-antiauthoritarian-dream";>surveillance</a>.
</p>
<p>
Another meaning (which overlaps that but is not the same thing)
is <a href="/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html">
-Software as a Service</a>, which denies you control over your computing.
+Service as a Software Substitute</a>, which denies you control over
+your computing. You should never use SaaSS.
</p>
<p>
Another meaning is renting a remote physical server, or virtual server.
-These can be ok under certain circumstances.
+These practices are ok under certain circumstances.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Another meaning is accessing your own server from your own mobile device.
+That raises no particular ethical issues.
</p>
<p>
@@ -191,12 +192,27 @@
NIST definition of "cloud computing"</a> mentions three scenarios that
raise different ethical issues: Software as a Service, Platform as a
Service, and Infrastructure as a Service. However, that definition
-does not match the common use of the term, since it does not include
-storing data in online services.
+does not match the common use of “cloud computing”, since
+it does not include storing data in online services. Software as a
+Service as defined by NIST overlaps considerably with Service as a
+Software Substitute, which mistreats the user, but the two concepts
+are not equivalent.
</p>
<p>
-The best way to avoid this confusion is not to use the term.
+These different computing practices don't even belong in the same
+discussion. The best way to avoid the confusion the term “cloud
+computing” spreads is not to use the term “cloud” in
+connection with computing. Talk about the scenario you mean, and call
+it by a specific term.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Curiously, Larry Ellison, a proprietary software developer,
+also <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13953_3-10052188-80.html";>
+noted the vacuity of the term “cloud computing.”</a> He
+decided to use the term anyway because, as a proprietary software
+developer, he isn't motivated by the same ideals as we are.
</p>
<h4 id="Commercial">“Commercial”</h4>
@@ -739,16 +755,36 @@
the only condition in these licenses is a uniform royalty fee.</p>
+<h4 id="SaaS">“SaaS” or “Software as a Service”</h4>
+<p>
+We used to say that SaaS (short for “Software as a
+Service”) is an injustice, but then we found that there was a
+lot of variation in people's understanding of which activities count
+as SaaS. So we switched to a new term, “Service as a Software
+Substitute” or “SaaSS.” This term has two
+advantages: it wasn't used before, so our definition is the only one,
+and it explains what the injustice consists of.</p>
+<p>
+See <a href="/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html">Who
+Does That Server Really Serve?</a> for discussion of this
+issue.</p>
+<p>
+In Spanish we continue to use the term “software como servicio”
+because the joke of “software como ser vicio” is too good
+to give up.</p>
+
+
<h4 id="SellSoftware">“Sell software”</h4>
<p>
The term “sell software” is ambiguous. Strictly speaking,
-exchanging a copy of a free program for a sum of money is
-selling; but people usually associate the term
-“sell” with proprietary restrictions on the subsequent use
-of the software. You can be more precise, and prevent confusion, by
-saying either “distributing copies of a program for a fee”
-or “imposing proprietary restrictions on the use of a
-program,” depending on what you mean.</p>
+exchanging a copy of a free program for a sum of money
+is <a href="/philosophy/selling.html"> selling the program</a>, and
+there is nothing wrong with doing that. However, people usually
+associate the term “selling software” with proprietary
+restrictions on the subsequent use of the software. You can be clear,
+and prevent confusion, by saying either “distributing copies of
+a program for a fee” or “imposing proprietary restrictions
+on the use of a program.”</p>
<p>
See <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">Selling Free Software</a> for
further discussion of this issue.</p>
@@ -875,7 +911,7 @@
<p>Updated:
<!-- timestamp start -->
-$Date: 2013/12/06 00:38:13 $
+$Date: 2013/12/29 13:46:47 $
<!-- timestamp end -->
</p>
</div>