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What did he do to the future of computing?

• PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
  He created the public understanding that "software" means ready-to-run executables. He created the public understanding that "software" is non-repairable, non-modifiable and created (only) by wizards in corporations. He created the public understanding that software had to cost money, and specifically per-copy, per-platform, per-user licensing terms. None of these things were accepted before Gates et al. create Microsoft. Sure, there were versions of them floating around, but they were still competing with alternative visions of how computing was going to work, and there was at least an equal chance that the more anarchic vision of things that ultimately gave rise to GNU and libre software would have won out. Gates' letter to "hobbyists" stands out as a turning point in the history of software, and because its author ended up with an enormously powerful corporation behind him, his views of how this stuff should work became the dominant one.
  • 2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago
    It's amazing to see first world nerds cry about software freedom and rail against Gates when he is trying to save millions of lives. Software freedom is a pet cause. Fighting malaria and infant mortality in impoverished parts of the world is noble.
    • PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
      Just a few comments above I said: Oh, he's a great guy now (mostly). I fully applaud 99% of everything he's tried do with the Gates Foundation. That doesn't absolve him of his past. Also, I have a few good friends who do work in developing countries on health care and get funded by the GF. Guess what they rely on for software? (Hint: Bill didn't write it)