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Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.carno.net.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!munnari.OZ.AU!news.ecn.uoknor.edu!feed1.news.erols.com!arclight.uoregon.edu!news.algonet.se!eru.mt.luth.se!newsfeed.luth.se!news.luth.se!newsfeed.sunet.se!news01.sunet.se!sunic!02-newsfeed.univie.ac.at!newsfeed.de.ibm.net!news-m01.ny.us.ibm.net!news-s01.ny.us.ibm.net!not-for-mail From: mouth@ibm.net (Mouth of the South) Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc,comp.os.linux.networking,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc,comp.unix.bsd.misc,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy,comp.os.os2.advocacy Subject: Linux vs whatever Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 23:10:33 -0500 Lines: 34 Message-ID: <5qC7y0gTzDLB091yn@ibm.net> References: <32DFFEAB.7704@usa.net> <5c155c$p6u@raven.eva.net> <5c19pg$rf6@lynx.dac.neu.edu> <5c39sk$ddl@troma.rv.tis.com> <5c8jlm$50u@cynic.portal.ca> <m23evrulla.fsf@desk.crynwr.com> <32EA25AB.41C67EA6@freebsd.org> NNTP-Posting-Host: slip129-37-195-215.nc.us.ibm.net Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.os.linux.misc:154377 comp.os.linux.networking:66243 comp.os.linux.setup:94020 comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc:5742 comp.unix.bsd.misc:2038 comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy:51051 comp.os.os2.advocacy:263614 In article <32EA25AB.41C67EA6@freebsd.org>, "John S. Dyson" <dyson@freebsd.org> wrote: >FreeBSD is a fully integrated tool and OS, with runtime that can >be put into embedded product without redistribution encumberances In other words, any greedy corporation can take the BSD source code, add a few features to make a derived work, and sell their derived work without revealing their source code, right? Stallman had the right idea with the GPL, prohibiting restrictions on the distribution of source code for derivative works. Linux under the GPL is like fusion energy, self sustaining with no harmful waste. Since nobody can create a derivative work from Linux and hide the source code, every useful work derived from Linux adds value to it. This is the compelling appeal of Linux. It has reached "fusion," a merging of diverse elements into a unified whole. Its "energy" output increases with the growth of its user base, and as more users write device drivers, apps, and other contributed code, they increase its energy output. This in turn attracts more users in a continuing cycle of fusion energy. Since no one can hide any Linux source code, Linux never loses any energy. BSD, on the other hand, is like fission where it becomes divided and loses energy every time some greedy bozo tries to hide the source code for their derivative work. Linux is like the sun, a self sustaining fusion reactor. Not only do these principles apply to Linux vs. BSD, but also to Linux vs. operating systems from companies such as Microsoft and IBM, who imagine they can forever continue to distribute products TOTALLY object code only. Their darkness will be replaced by the light of Linux.