"...It is a failure of the GNU project and of the free software movement that there is so much emphasis on monolithic distributions and binary package distributions. It is a failure of the GNU project and the free software movement that one so often encounters distros that offer to not install source trees and even offer to not install development environments. These developments systematically and by design deprive users of incentive to actually *exercise* their software freedom as individuals. These developments encourage a *de facto* (even if not licensing-based) ceding of software freedom to distribution projects like Debian or any of the commercial distros [...]
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Anybody up to writing good directory software?
Tue, 2007-02-20 11:17 — David JonathanSince the very beginning, directories (of any kind) have had a very central role in the internet. (I have recently grown fond of Free Web Directory. Even Slashdot can be considered a directory: a collection of great news and invaluable user-generated comments. As far as software is concerned, doing a quick search on Google about software directories will return the free (as in freedom) software directories like Savannah, SourceForge, Freshmeat and so on, followed by shareware and freeware sites such as FileBuzz, PCWin Download Center and All Freeware (great if you're looking for shareware and freeware, but definitely less comprehensive than their free-as-in-freedom counterparts).
Is better education the key to finding better software?
Sat, 2007-03-03 03:25 — Edward RusselI read David Jonathon's article Anybody Up To Writing Good Directory Software? the other day, which got me thinking about software directories in general. As David mentioned, many of the software directories one finds when doing a quick google search are free as in beer, not as in freedom. But what interests me is the software directories that already exist, providing a combination of both free as in beer software, and open source software. Sites such as Freeware Downloads and Shareware Download don't advertise themselves as providing free as in liberty software, but each of them have a good selection of open source software available... if you know where to look.
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Balzac
3 years 44 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago
Thomas Lord's Outburst
I wonder if Mr. Lord is aware that the lack of adherence to standards is due in part to people like himself who like to make a stink rather than a calmly spoken proposal.
Social issues are at the root of software incompatibility and lack of standardization.
Another thing he neglected to mention - freedom. Regardless of the lack of uniformity of all the parts of GNU/Linux, at least it is available under a license which self-respecting people can embrace.
If the GNU Project is going to be rebooted, it won't be done by a temperamental outburst such as this one.
Many problems are obvious to many people, but they won't agree on a solution unless a framework for cooperation is generally accepted.
can.axis
3 years 44 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago
Off-list discussion
There's an interesting debate between RMS and Mr. Lord...
- RMS: http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2008-07/msg00647.html
- Mr. Lord: http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2008-07/msg00648.html
Balzac
3 years 44 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago
Lord was obnoxious.
Now I don't think it will be easy for others to assimilate his ideas.
More often than not, there are many ways to implement functionality, and more than one qualified person to do it.
I wouldn't want his help if it began with a public scolding for not living up to his expectations.
aboutblank
3 years 44 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago
When people scold
When people scold, it's usually because they believe that the fault could be in better state than its current and that a correctly worded reprove would convince people to make things better. I believe that Mr Lord intended to see some positive action out of his rant as opposed to ranting for the sake of nagging criticism.
Balzac
3 years 44 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago
We'll see if he follows through.
I hope he's willing to make a sustained effort after using such discouraging language. I won't hold my breath though.