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To: Golden Eagle
Apple's O/S is far from completely open, in fact they aren't releasing the kernel code for Intel processors nor are they using Stallman's license that would force them to.

Once again repeating Apple's statement that posted to you earlier - Although the source for the new Intel kernel has not been published yet, Apple has not announced a change in their open source policy on the kernel. Apple is expected to say more about the Intel kernel source situation at the next developer's conference. I'll speculate it will be fully published a few weeks before Leopard is released, consistent with their past practices.

Regarding Stallman and FSF software, much of it IS INCLUDED with Mac OS X, including emacs and the gcc compiler. Apple IS REQUIRED to comply with the GPL on those items. You can open the Terminal application and enter the commands "man gcc" and "man emacs" to confirm that fact. Other notable GPL software packages on Mac OS X include gdb, perl, samba and grep.

Several other open source software packages using licenses other than GPL are also included with Mac OS X, and Apple complies with their respective terms and conditions. A comprehensive list of Mac OS X software components and licenses is stored at /Library/Documentation/Acknowledgements.rtf.

Nobody here likes Stallman's personal politics. He's not on the list of people I admire in the industry. But he is a good programmer and a lot of people have made a lot of money from his work.

42 posted on 05/26/2006 12:19:07 AM PDT by HAL9000 (Get a Mac - The Ultimate FReeping Machine)
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To: HAL9000
Nobody here likes Stallman's personal politics.

Well there sure are quite a few that rush to his defense whenever I remind them what a moonbat he is. I think we have quite a few "techno whores" that pledge their allegiance to the "god of technology" above all else, and would support the devil himself if he wowed them with new capabilities, especially if they were "given away" "for free". Nobody wants to hear this though, as the truth is often painful.

44 posted on 05/26/2006 10:04:13 AM PDT by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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