Re: Tools

[Dragi Raos]

I see your point. Of course, #1 was excellent reason not to use POSSL -
it did not exist :-)

However, #2 is not exactly correct: POSSL can work with, but does not
require, non-free SW; one can use it without WebSphere and business
graphics, and with some of the free database systems. They have also
switched from commercial to free version of Motif.

Linus did not start Linux for 'world changing' reasons a'la RMS, but for
fun and educational value of it. But that's beside the point.

POSSL is still very much a slightly obsolete version of Panther for
Linux. I hoped that OSS comunity would take it and give it life of its
own (by updating database drivers, interfacing it with some free
implementation of J2EE architecture, make it work with some of the free
Linux-native GUI toolkits, adding more functionality...). There is
nothing to prevent us from doing that in the license Prolifics released
it under. As it stands now, it is mostly utilised by users of commercial
Panther as a means to get cheap, slightly incompatible developer seats
and as the 'ultimate programmer's reference' (no manual can beat
actually reading the code).  I think that's pitty.

Of course, I am not sugesting that people @ GNUe should change their
platform just because I happen to like another one - it's too late for
that now. Frankly, I was surprised that anybody even heard of POSSL :-)

Good luck!

Dragi "Bonzi" Raos

----- Original Message -----
From: "Derek Neighbors" <address@hidden>
To: "Dragi Raos" <address@hidden>
Cc: <address@hidden>
Sent: Saturday, October 19, 2002 5:34 PM
Subject: Re: Tools

You may think of it as reinventing the wheel.  We think of it as
providing a completely liberated solution.  A few items to note.

1. POSSL was not opensource at the time GNUe was started.
2. POSSL (to my knowledge) requires non-free software to be used.
3. POSSL is under a copyright holder that has strong commercial
interests.

These things are important.  Under the current scenario, I would ask why
did Linus Torvalds create GNU/Linux?  He could have obtained a
proprietary kernel and installed the GNU system on top of it and had a
working system?  Much the same way one can obtain a oodles of
proprietary software (like websphere/visual age java, etc) and intsall
POSSL on top of it and have a non-free system.

The gist of the GNU project is to provide a completely free
alternative.  Under consistent and compatiable licenses.  GNU Enterprise
is a part of the GNU project and so aims to work cohesively with the
rest of the GNU project.


--
Derek Neighbors
GNU Enterprise
http://www.gnuenterprise.org
address@hidden