OT and Annoying: Re: [Mimedefang] grammar nit
Kevin A. McGrail
kmcgrail at pccc.com
Thu Jun 24 07:51:18 EDT 2004
> > } So I don't think the derogatory comment is warranted at all.
> >
> > ...so, the comment does match. I wasn't going to say anything; however,
> > I agree with you that it isn't warranted. Actually, I would go so far
> > as to say that it doesn't belong there, since it is unprofessional and
> > is a blemish on an otherwise very fine product. Politics doesn't
> > belong in software. Even the FSF says you shouldn't desupport SCO
> > products since that would only hurt people that must use SCO products
> > for one reason or another.
OK, you have got to be kidding! Open Source Software (OSS) IS political by
its very nature and has been waging a political battle for about a decade
now. Perhaps you should read a bit more from Eric S. Raymond or read about
Linus Torvald and GNU, etc. Apologies to the dozens of other proponents of
OSS I am leaving off for the moment.
I know that myself, along with many others, have had my programs ridiculed
for being "inherently" unprofessional because they are free. I have fought
the uphill battles in board rooms convincing publicly-traded firms to try
perl/apache/mysql/linux. I've seen what can happen when you bid a job using
OSS and the Microsoft's of the world turn around and give their software at
10% of standard pricing just to land the deal.
That doesn't mean I'm anti-commerce either. I am in the position many
people are in such as DFS and CanIT. Using open source documents and
products to build the bottom-line of a company. Personally, I like it and
none of my customers feel "locked" in and I don't feel grubby doing it.
There is always a balance and truly it's been a navigation by ear because
these are truly untested waters.
Anyway, I honestly can't believe you are nitpicking compile-time option and
documentation grammar on a free piece of software. The heat to a person to
release a commercial product with a shareware version is just enormous and a
few jabs and humor in the source is more than professional.
Annoyed,
KAM
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