Re: An open letter to the debian community
George Bonser wrote:
The computer is a tool. People often use it to get real work
> done with real deadlines. Real money depends on this work. Debian offers
> the best ENVORONMENT, so far, for maintaining and supporting software for
> Linux in the enterprise.
Not so cut-and dried. Debian offers the best learning curve - a
means to interact with the system. It enables users to understand
computers and IMHO use them as they should be used. Development
depends on the people who do understand and who do interact with
computers.
GNU/Linux is very different from Windoze because of this.
> Political values of the distribution mean little in that context. It
> stands on its TECHNICAL merits and not its POLITICAL ideology. In this
> environment, commercial software is often needed to get the job done.
> Products such as IBM's application servers, java stuff, things from Corel,
> make Linux useful in the enterprise.
IMHO you're missing the point. Which is not the politics of free
software, but the empowerment free software gives. That is,
ability to understand the system, and alter it.
> The enterprise is what makes the difference between a hobby or research
> project and something you can send the kids to college with. Mortgage
> banks, grocery stores, and schools require real money. They do not give
> any discounts for having contributed to Free software. Debian may be great
> from a political standpoint but if it will not get the job done at work,
> it is not likely to ever be used there and WILL be replaced by a
> distribution that targets that area.
Again, IMHO missing the point about what make GNU/Linux unique:
the empowerment which free software brings. The ability to
distribute, the ability to understand and change.
BTW ideals are important - a lot of people do things (like
develop GPL programs) because they are idealists, or maybe
because they just like the challenge. They do not do it because
of money.
Credit to Stallman and the Debian developers for putting ideals
before profit. Society is not just about money - about your own
life; its about giving as well. Debian contributes to society in
a positive way. Boy - is this battle hard!
Windoze is profit and user driven (market forces if you wish).
Debian is driven by a desire to make a good, stable system based
on GPL. OK - this makes stable releases a little out of date,
according to market trends. So what? Am I being naive when I say
that Debian (or something like it) will survive because there
will always be enough people to put ideals before profit?
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