Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Maybe OT, reprap build started

Phil@Yahoo wrote:

> There is a lot of debate over who invented open source. Some say it was
> Richard Stallman, the founder of the GNU project.

Perhaps the coining of the term "open source" can be debated. Back in
the EARLY days
of computers, the vacuum-tube 701 and similar IBM mainframes of the late
1950's,
there was a group called SHARE, that swapped open source code via boxes
of punch
cards and mag tapes. Later, users of Digital Equipment computers had
DECUS, the
Digital Equipment Corporation User's Society. So, the principle of open
source
goes back to perhaps before some of these people were even BORN!

> When I first heard of it I wondered why any programmer would work so hard
> for no other benefit than MAYBE getting his name on the credits.

They work so hard because they have a problem to solve. Either their
boss assigns them a task,
they are working on something at home for their own need, or they run
into the same problem
at work time after time, and eventually figure they can save themselves
a lot of effort by
writing a program to do the task. Then, after getting it working, they
realize others can use
the same program, too, but the market is too limited to make it a
commercial product.

> When you
> have a truly outstanding product you publish a Major Revision. Only now it
> is not accessible. Sure, you obey the letter of the law, but there are lots
> of ways to obfuscate source code. Then you sell binary copies or consulting
> services, or otherwise take financial advantage of whatever edge your
> position affords you. All perfectly legal.
>

No, it is not. Obviously, you have not read the GPL or had it explained
to you. If you take
a GPL program, you are required by the original license to make all
derivative works ALSO
open source, and to provide source code on request to anyone who asks.

The FSF has taken upon itself the mission to sue any party that breaks
this requirement
of the GPL.

Jon