Re: GNUStep: An Apology for Announcing Donation of ProprietarySoftware to the Project

[Fred Kiefer]

I don't want to add more mails to this discussion, I just want to state
that I can't agree more to what Nicola wrote. I would not be working on
GNUstep if this project wasn't under LGPL and this is more important
than what ever I think of the original announcement or the apology or
even of paid software as a general issue. And of course Adam is no
"dolt" (A term I had to look up in my copy of Webster's. Isn't free
software great, we learn so many new things every day...).

Fred


Nicola Pero wrote:
> 
> > This is just one more reason that GNUStep should not be a GNU project.
> 
> Some of our most dedicated developers (certainly myself) wouldn't be
> working on GNUstep at all if GNUstep wasn't a GNU project.  Don't forget
> that and mind your words on this topic, 'cause you'll get flamed
> otherwise.
> 
> > Other reasons:
> 
> > GNUstep could use other publicaly avaliable code (like darwin or other apple
> > changes to gcc/gdb) without a copyright assignment.
> 
> ?
> 
> I don't get your point - who cares ?  what do we need that code for ?
> 
> first, we are trying to build a free software environment.  well, we're
> not trying - we've done it.  the dream of many - a free nextstep-like
> environment ... it's here - we miss gui details, we miss applications, but
> we have to code those anyway - it's just a matter of time.  so - what
> would be the point at this stage to mix apple obscure-licensed code with
> our clean free GNU (L)GPL code ?  just to spoil the whole point of the
> project at this stage ?  if you don't care about the fact it's free, and
> if you want apple proprietary software, go use apple software.
> 
> btw, apple is already merging their gcc changes into the mainstream GNU
> GCC.  They seem to be much less afraid of GNU than their users, and much
> of the software on darwin is GNU anyway.
> 
> > -Wno-import could be the default
> 
> This has nothing to do with GNUstep being part of the GNU project - it's a
> purely technical decision, while GNUstep being part of the GNU project is
> an ethical/philosophical/licensing question.
> 
> #import is deprecated - on technical grounds - by any gcc compiler hacker
> we had the chance of talking to, both GNU and Apple folks - they have
> strong views on that point and they keep the warning turned on in the
> compiler by default.
> 
> I personally think we don't have much to argue with them - they are right.
> 
> Anyway, if you don't want that warning, you should be discussing the
> technical bits with them, not blaiming the fact the GNUstep is part of the
> GNU project - that's meaningless.
> 
> gnustep-make already allows you to change the flags very simply - by just
> adding
> 
> ADDITIONAL_OBJC_FLAGS += -Wno-import
> 
> to your GNUmakefile.  If you have any suggestion for how to make it
> simpler, let me know - I'll implement a simpler way if you can suggest a
> reasonable one.  But the fact we're part of the GNU project has nothing to
> do with these technical details.
> 
> Just to put things in context, I personally would like -Wall to be the
> default in gnustep-make, but I don't blaim the GNU project if it isn't.
> Everyone of us has its own preferred flags for compiling, the GNU project
> has nothing to do with it - we can discuss how to make it simpler for
> people to choose their preferite flags, but what has this to do with
> GNUstep begin part of the GNU project at all ?
> 
> > Wouldn't it be nice to do what's best for the project and not what is best
> > for the GNU manafesto?
> 
> I don't get it - what exactly is your problem with GNUstep being part of
> GNU ?  You have all the software free on the internet, you can download
> everything you want, you can see the sources, modify them, recompile them,
> use them, package them, even sell them, what do you want more ?
> 
> If what you want more is being able to turn them into proprietary software
> (or to mix them with proprietary software in such a way that you can't use
> them without having proprietary software), then I'm very happy you can't
> do it - our code is meant to be free for everyone, and forever.
> 
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