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Re: A better autogen.sh


From: Juanma Barranquero
Subject: Re: A better autogen.sh
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:33:19 +0100

On Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 10:08, Paul Eggert <address@hidden> wrote:

> Emacs is part of the GNU project, and the main goal
> of the GNU project, as I'm sure you know, is to develop
> a complete Unix-like operating system that is free software.

Noooo. The main goal is to develop a complete Unix-like operating
system that it is free software, *and* to get people to use it.
Witness Hurd.

The very fact that the Windows port exists and was integrated into
mainline Emacs is, IIRC what I've read here and elsewhere, because
giving non-free users free alternatives is seen as a good way to teach
them about freedom. Hey, I'm a Windows user through and through, and
I'm here, collaborating (however sparsely) on a free project. That's a
consequence of having Emacs on Windows.

> The MS Windows port is not inherent to Emacs in that way.
> Where the MS Windows port can be done with minimal
> disruption to Emacs development, then that's fine;
> but where the MS Windows port presents an obstacle to
> improving how Emacs is maintained, that's a problem.
> In this discussion, we're trying to address one of these
> problems.

That would inspire much more confidence, were not for the fact that
lately it seems that *every* little nuance related to Windows (or
MS-DOS) is sen as an "obstacle to improving" Emacs. Apparently there
is people who would sleep more soundly if every trace of Windows were
removed from Emacs.

> I would not dream of making such a claim.  But that is a
> separate issue, and I don't see why it is relevant.

Because it would not even exists, were not for the Windows and MS-DOS
ports, which the bidi developer uses, maintains and enjoys. Battling
an uphill struggle, I would add, as relatively recent threads (less
than two months old) demonstrate quite clearly.


    Juanma



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