5 ms·

Not too surprising, OSX is a common platform for devs who are linux/unix-oriented but want a high-level OS with all the sleek GUIs and mainstream features. OSX

Not too surprising, OSX is a common platform for devs who are linux/unix-oriented but want a high-level OS with all the sleek GUIs and mainstream features. OSX is a certified Unix OS, after all, so it tends to speak to emacs users in a way that you won't typically find among the Windows base. Yes Unix is not Linux, but I see OSX widely used at hackathons and conferences because of its underpinnings.

lqdc13 10y ago
One of the points of FSF is to never use closed software. OSX is not GPL.
- chris_wot 10y ago
  Makes me wonder why they have compatibility shims to allow their website show in browers like IE6... Yes, it's pedantic, but this GNU we are speaking about.
  - lqdc13 10y ago
    That would actually make sense. It might help more people see the light.
    - oneeyedpigeon 10y ago
      Really? You think if I recommend emacs to someone using IE6 and they go view the site and it fails to display, that will somehow make them 'see the light'? I suspect the complete opposite is true and, hence, why gnu support browsers that aren't 100% GPLed.
      - chris_wot 10y ago
        Nobody is saying that it is practical, but GNU aren't known to make their stance on practicalities alone. GNU are known for their ideological purity, and a lot of people (some even quite grudgingly) admire them for their consistent stance.
        oneeyedpigeon 10y ago
        I'm sure they've addressed this very issue. They almost certainly just write to the standards and don't bother putting in any browser-specific hacks, which is pretty much the best way to do things anyway, IMHO.
        chris_wot 10y ago
        I saw at least one IE6 specific hack in their pages.
      - AimHere 10y ago
        You seem to be in agreement with the person you're replying to. They're saying that there's a compatibility shim so that more IE6 users can 'see the light'.
- ac2u 10y ago
  Well, to get picky about it, I believe the exception is that it's ok to use it while a non-closed alternative is in the works. I think the example Stallman uses in his talks is that of software controlling a life saving medical device. Obviously the use case in point doesn't come under that though. :)
- rekado 10y ago
  "Free" does not mean "GPL" only. If OSX were released under any of the many free licenses it would be fine, but sadly it is just proprietary software with some free components.
kleiba 10y ago
I think the OP's point was more targeted toward the fact that OSX is a non-free operating system, and Emacs is part of the GNU project.
- peatfreak 10y ago
  Yes. I doubt that somebody who was so close to the GNU project as to have authorization to change the main Emacs website wouldn't know about this. Clearly it's just a simple mistake, easily fixed.
webkike 10y ago
The issue is not that the OS is not Linux, it's that the OS is not free

lqdc13 10y ago

One of the points of FSF is to never use closed software. OSX is not GPL.

chris_wot 10y ago
Makes me wonder why they have compatibility shims to allow their website show in browers like IE6... Yes, it's pedantic, but this GNU we are speaking about.
- lqdc13 10y ago
  That would actually make sense. It might help more people see the light.
  - oneeyedpigeon 10y ago
    Really? You think if I recommend emacs to someone using IE6 and they go view the site and it fails to display, that will somehow make them 'see the light'? I suspect the complete opposite is true and, hence, why gnu support browsers that aren't 100% GPLed.
    - chris_wot 10y ago
      Nobody is saying that it is practical, but GNU aren't known to make their stance on practicalities alone. GNU are known for their ideological purity, and a lot of people (some even quite grudgingly) admire them for their consistent stance.
      - oneeyedpigeon 10y ago
        I'm sure they've addressed this very issue. They almost certainly just write to the standards and don't bother putting in any browser-specific hacks, which is pretty much the best way to do things anyway, IMHO.
        chris_wot 10y ago
        I saw at least one IE6 specific hack in their pages.
    - AimHere 10y ago
      You seem to be in agreement with the person you're replying to. They're saying that there's a compatibility shim so that more IE6 users can 'see the light'.
ac2u 10y ago
Well, to get picky about it, I believe the exception is that it's ok to use it while a non-closed alternative is in the works. I think the example Stallman uses in his talks is that of software controlling a life saving medical device. Obviously the use case in point doesn't come under that though. :)
rekado 10y ago
"Free" does not mean "GPL" only. If OSX were released under any of the many free licenses it would be fine, but sadly it is just proprietary software with some free components.

kleiba 10y ago

I think the OP's point was more targeted toward the fact that OSX is a non-free operating system, and Emacs is part of the GNU project.

peatfreak 10y ago
Yes. I doubt that somebody who was so close to the GNU project as to have authorization to change the main Emacs website wouldn't know about this. Clearly it's just a simple mistake, easily fixed.

webkike 10y ago

The issue is not that the OS is not Linux, it's that the OS is not free