Re: Controversy over dynamic linking -- how to end the panic

[David Woodhouse]

[e-mail] said:
>  Earlier today I was contacted by a principal at a well-known Linux
> company who was in a mild panic over recent arguments by Alan Cox and
> David Miller.  This company (not VA or Red Hat, BTW) fears that their
> customers will run from Linux if they get the idea that linking
> drivers to the kernel might force them open. 

I'm not going to join the amateur lawyers' society debate about this. But I 
will point out that I disagree with your intentions here.

Personally, I don't _want_ authors or users of binary modules to be reassured.
I want them to write open source code, or go away. And I don't think I'm 
alone in that.

I think Linus said it best...

On 7 Feb 1999, at 08:15:24 GMT, Linus Torvalds said:
> Basically, I want people to know that when they use binary-only modules,
> it's THEIR problem.  I want people to know that in their bones, and I
> want it shouted out from the rooftops.  I want people to wake up in a
> cold sweat every once in a while if they use binary-only modules. 

Large companies are now basing their design and purchasing choices on the
availability of _real_ Linux support; not just binary-only drivers. Even if 
we _are_ primarily motivated by the desire to increase the market share of 
Linux (which is something I don't concede anyway), then we still don't lose 
much by letting binary-module people continue to sweat. 

--
dwmw2