So after recently watching revolution
OS, a film about the rise of Linux and the open source movement, I
was struck by something; Richard Stallman is completely nuts. Now,
you have to respect the commitment that Stallman has to his
principles. Stallman's belief in the importance of building community
is inspiring. However, the lengths that he will go to avoid using
software that is not free is pathological. His belief that all
software should be free is itself crazy. Clearly there are some
business models where free software works and can be profitable.
However that doesn't mean it's the only reasonable model and that
others are wrong. Like many zealots Stallman is dedicated to his
cause to a point of unreasonableness. I mean, should everybody refuse
to use MP3s just because the MP3 algorithm isn't GPL licensed?
Yea, he's certainly an extremist and he's just plain strange. His ideas sound nice, I mean who wouldn't like to have only free software, but in practice it's a little more difficult. Without financial incentive a lot of really good pieces of software just wouldn't exist. I think that's really why the "open source" proponents (Linus and others) have really advanced, while Stallman has kind of been left behind.
ReplyDeleteStallman's ideas are more fit for a community in which all act for the benefit of their fellows free of charge, including doctors, mechanics, and so forth. As it is with everyone needing money, expecting people to not want to be paid for their skills and services is illogical.
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