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Re: [wwwdocs] Add "free software" instead of "Open Source" to codingconventions.html


Steven Bosscher wrote:

> The ExactCode website uses the term "open source", OpenBench can be
> found under the "open source" tab, "Openbench does build uppon already
> well-known OpenSource packages", etc.

I agree with Steven that we should not reflexively make this change to
every reference on the GCC web site.

It's reasonable for the FSF to use "free software" to describe its own
software, or other similar for which the FSF's definition of "free" is
intrinsic.

But, of course, the FSF specifically highlights the distinction between
"free" and "open-source" software and makes the point that this a
philosophical difference, not, per se, a licensing issue.  If someone
else's software is more properly described as open-source, because that
reflects the developer community and/or copyright holder's philosophy,
it seems bizarre -- and perhaps rude -- to refuse to call it that.  That
would only seem to undermine the distinction that the FSF is trying to make.

It's not worth a big fight.  Maybe it's better just to remove the adjective.

My two cents,

-- 
Mark Mitchell
CodeSourcery
mark@codesourcery.com
(650) 331-3385 x713


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