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Printers being crap led to the Free Software movement and the GPL
by coryrc 6y ago
Printers being crap led to the Free Software movement and the GPL
- gpvos 6y agoPlease tell?
- Nextgrid 6y ago> In 1980, Stallman and some other hackers at the AI Lab were refused access to the source code for the software of a newly installed laser printer, the Xerox 9700. Stallman had modified the software for the Lab's previous laser printer (the XGP, Xerographic Printer), so it electronically messaged a user when the person's job was printed, and would message all logged-in users waiting for print jobs if the printer was jammed. Not being able to add these features to the new printer was a major inconvenience, as the printer was on a different floor from most of the users. This experience convinced Stallman of people's need to be able to freely modify the software they use. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stallman#Events_leading_to_GNU https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stallman#Events_leadin...