Replies

I for one like open source but I am by no means dislike or am against closed source. Everyone has a right to do with their IP as they wish; if that means keeping the source code locked up so be it, if it means putting the code under GPL/BSD also good.

You'll find fanatics on both side, people who swear OSS is the only way to go and people who swear the GPL is communism (never mind the fact the GPL uphold the owners right to know how you have used their IP).

Open source software tends push closed source, it offers competition where none might elsewhere exist. MS is finally after years refocusing on ie, after years of letting it sit due to lack of competition. MS is doing this because of, in no small part, firefox.

Personally... I think any large organization or government needs to demand the source code to almost any system they buy or otherwise use. Whether that's open source via GPL or BSD style licences, or licensed from a proprietary vendor, the organization needs to have access to the source code itself so that it can customize the software to their own needs, and/or continue to maintain the product after it is no longer supported by the vendor/developer.

5 posted on 06/27/2005 5:57:14 AM PDT by kevkrom (“It’s good to remember whom people turn to when they’re desperate — and it ain’t Kofi Annan.”)