3 ms·
"Pessimistic" is a good generalization of the GPL mindset in my opinion: "If I don't make this thing GPL then some greedy-bastard company will make a fortune of
by parvenu74 8y ago
"Pessimistic" is a good generalization of the GPL mindset in my opinion: "If I don't make this thing GPL then some greedy-bastard company will make a fortune off of my ideas and never give me a cut, credit, or contribute back."
Maybe, but it's a dim way of looking at other people.
- Iolaum 8y agoRemember that GPL is a product of the realities around the open source ecosystem when Bill Gates and Steve Balmer where CEOs on Microsoft. Moreover the situation with some android OEMs that don't provide source code for their devices shows that this is still happening today.
- apple4ever 8y agoThat was 20 years ago. It’s clear the GPL hurts open source. It’s why I’ve never liked it.
- ThrowawayR2 8y ago> Remember that GPL is a product of the realities around the open source ecosystem when Bill Gates and Steve Balmer where CEOs on Microsoft. The irony being that formerly FOSS companies are turning to dual licensing, "open core", and similar non-free strategies because it turned out that Gates & Ballmer, y'know, like, actually had a point: you need income in order to keep your business running. And, by the way, you're wrong anyway: GPLv1 came out in '89 and GPLv2 came out in '91. Microsoft was a relatively minor player at that time; its meteoric rise to dominance didn't begin until a few years later.
- kgwxd 8y agoIt's just a legal document. We have laws against killing, doesn't mean we suspect everyone of being a murderer.
- floe 8y agoIt's certainly a dim way of looking at corporations, but, oh well. I don't think they deserve better. And I think GPL actually embodies a really positive mindset. To release GPL code is to believe that there are others out there who will help you without intending to get advantage over you or shut you out.