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It's in Docker's interest to capture as much value as they can from their products, their calculus is changing. It's their decision to make, however passing it
by mevile 8y ago
It's in Docker's interest to capture as much value as they can from their products, their calculus is changing. It's their decision to make, however passing it off as in the best interest of users is a bit of a whopper and not the best way to communicate it. I don't think entitlement to other people's work is the best response though.
- sjansen 8y agoWhile some people might be reacting based on simple entitlement, I suspect that for the majority this triggers a strong reaction because it is a warning sign. If Docker were a big company, it'd just be part of the normal drift toward customer abuse. Because Docker is still a relatively small company, it looks like a desperate attempt to stay afloat through increased monetization. The unintended side effect is that it makes me less inclined to purchase anything because I don't want to bet on a sinking ship.
- tannhaeuser 8y agoDocker is just a thin wrapper around Linux (API + namespaces). Dockerfiles frequently install a whole userspace (such as Alpine's or Debian's) as a base, to then add proprietary bits. Basically, Docker can be seen as GPL circumvention device. People aren't entitled so much as they're frustrated as they realize they've given too much control to some inessential piece of commercial software.
- majewsky 8y agoIn which way does using Docker circumvent the GPL? It's not like Docker images are opaque binary blobs, unless you count tar.gz as opaque.
- tannhaeuser 8y agoBecause a GNU userspace is "distributed" along with proprietary software?
- majewsky 8y agoIf that were a GPL violation, >90% of Linux distributions were violating the GPL.
- tannhaeuser 8y agoHow so? Distros provide source code, unlike Docker images.
- umanwizard 8y agoMany distros (I’d guess almost all of them) bundle proprietary software. The Nvidia graphics drivers are the first example I can think of. (This could be out of date since I haven’t dealt with it in several years)
- majewsky 8y agoAlso binary firmware blobs.
- alkonaut 8y agoThe outrage is 90% from the fact that they call it "improve the user experience going forward". If they had just said "we need some leads/emails to monetize this thing a little more, hope you understand. Use a throwaway email or the well-hidden direct download if this change makes you uncomfortable", nearly no one would have complained.
- chii 8y ago> nearly no one would have complained. except their marketing and sales department (and associated CxO level people who needs to see more revenue!)