From: Tony Williams 

Geo. wrote:

> Apple ][ had tons of software, programmers everywhere, sharing was done via
> the bbs networks. Write a program and people from NY to CA were using it
> within a week. It was all free. It had little effect on the commercial
> software markets.

Heck, there were even Apple ][ clones until Apple started sueing. What's
the one I'm thinking of, the Superbrain? No, can't have been - that was a
Z80.

At college we used something called LDOS (Logical Disk operating System) on
those boxes to learn assembler and I think that was open source too.

> Linux and Open source is nothing new (well maybe the level of co-operation
> is, but software has become much more integrated since the 70's so that's
> natural evolution). Open source is just experiencing a revival, in part
> because of the internet but most recently because MS is pissing off way too
> many people. How far that's going to drive Linux and Open source I don't
> know but it is MS and the internet not some notion of "open
source" that is
> the driving force behind the recent popularity. It's not happening because
> it's some cool new way of developing software..

It's been driving it for 10 years now. MS is a factor but it's not the whole story.


I just wish Stallman would stop pretending that he invented the idea and
somehow has the right to redefine the word "free" to mean
whatever he chooses it to mean.

The only free software is public domain.


--
Tony

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