GCC association with the FSF

[Jonathan Wakely]

On Sun, 11 Apr 2021, 23:17 Alexandre Oliva wrote:

>
> Now, IIRC you and others have already disclaimed those reasons.  What I
> don't recall seeing is the actual issue.  Pardon me if I missed it; I
> gather I didn't, because you wrote something to the effect that I've
> sidestepped it, which tells me I don't really know what it is.  If you
> could point to it in the archives, or restate it, I'd appreciate it.
>

Here you go:
https://gcc.gnu.org/pipermail/gcc/2021-March/235218.html

GNU seems to have become a cult of personality. FSF seems to be a sinking
ship.

I don't think it benefits GCC to be linked to them. I think GCC would do
better without those links.

The mail linked above was quoted in the first mail in this sub-thread, when
Mark changed the Subject:
https://gcc.gnu.org/pipermail/gcc/2021-April/235340.html

I also agree with the sentiments in
https://wingolog.org/archives/2021/03/25/here-we-go-again

I said that the only benefit I see for GCC is the DNS records for
gcc.gnu.org and apart from Mark suggesting that a single copyright holder
is an advantage (which I am not convinced about) the only arguments put
forward have been variations on:

- this is unfair, RMS is being subjected to a witch hunt (irrelevant to my
question, it doesn't tell me what benefit GCC gets from being linked to GNU
or FSF)

- RMS ensures GCC stays honest (implying the rest of us can't be trusted or
don't *really* believe in FOSS, I don't think it's true and don't see this
as an advantage)

- RMS doesn't get involved in GCC anyway, there's no reason to disassociate
from him (still doesnt tell me what benefit there is, and ignores
perception problems caused by that association)

- it is not wise to disrespect the GNU Father (rambling troll who is listed
as a GNU maintainer despite contributing no code, further devaluing the
whole project)

So no benefits that I can see. But lots of cult-like behaviour that helped
me make up my mind.

If the GNU project and the FSF want to keep RMS, fine, they can have him
(if you check you'll find I haven't signed the GitHub letter). But they
can't tell me to be happy about it and they can't tell me where to
contribute my code.

If the GNU project wants to pull my code from a fork, without my copyright
assignment, I will consider that a small victory because it will mean
they're willing to accept the contributions without owning the copyright.
I'd like that.

Anybody is welcome to use my code subject to its licence terms. But that
doesn't mean they're welcome to own it or call it theirs. Assigning my
copyright is my choice (and w.r.t what you said to Dave about "selling our
services" ... a cheap shot which assumes we aren't contributing under
personal assignments to the FSF, and assumes we have no choice to work
elsewhere if we don't like the terms).