From: "John Gay" <John_...@eur.3com.com>
Subject: Sun goes fully open source!
Date: 1999/10/02
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First, IBM, HP, Sun etc . . . join in supporting Linux, Then Apple starts
releasing portions of Mac OS, and now . . .
SUN MICROSYSTEMS, TO PARALLEL SUCCESS OF LINUX, MAKES SOLARIS CODE
AVAILABLE
Sun plans to open the source code for its Solaris operating
system in hopes of replicating the success of Linux. However,
rather than giving the source code away for free, Sun will
release Solaris source code under its "community-source license,"
says Sun CTO Greg Papadopoulos. Community-source licensing will
allow programmers to download and change Solaris code, provided
they include open interfaces to the software they develop and
report glitches to Sun and other programmers. Developers using
Solaris code for non-commercial applications will not have to
pay, while those using the code for commercial programs will pay
licensing fees to Sun. Sun's agreement differs from Linux rules
because Linux is free even for commercial use, although users
must publicly post changes to the code. In opening Solaris'
source code, Sun aims to establish Solaris as the leading OS for
Internet sites as well as corporate data centers.
(Wall Street Journal 10/01/99)
How much longer before the other UNIX's follow? How long can Microsoft hold out?
Looks like the days of paying through the nose for an OS and being held hostage
by current software copyright laws are truly numbered!!!
Kinda reminds me of a certain TV commercial from 1984.
Cheers,
John Gay
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From: Ben Collins <bcoll...@debian.org>
Subject: Re: Sun goes fully open source!
Date: 1999/10/02
Message-ID: <19991001203011.R23645@lappy.djj.state.va.us>#1/1
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On Sat, Oct 02, 1999 at 01:07:18AM +0100, John Gay wrote:
>
>
> First, IBM, HP, Sun etc . . . join in supporting Linux, Then Apple starts
> releasing portions of Mac OS, and now . . .
Sorry, but this is far from fully open source. If you fix bugs, you are
required by the license to report the changes to Sun. If you use it in
a commercial environment, you have to pay a license.
Ben
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From: "John Gay" <John_...@eur.3com.com>
Subject: Re: Sun goes fully open source!
Date: 1999/10/02
Message-ID: <802567FE.0011BF8A.00@notesmta.eur.3com.com>#1/1
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True, not quite 'Full Open Source', but as Linus says, think of free speech, not
free beer! Just having access to the source code puts programmers years ahead of
where Microsoft would like them to be. By Sun's licence, I, and many others, can
download and run Solaris on my own system, make as many modifications as I like,
as long as I don't re-distribute the changes. Sun is only trying to protect it's
name and intellectual property. If I feel compelled to distribute my changes,
then I post them to Sun, where they will be verified before general release. If
I want to actually try to sell my modified version of Solaris, Sun will then
require me to pay licensing fees. It is still a much better compromise then
before. And, like I said, how long before the other UNIX's follow this example.
After IBM releases AIX and HP release HP-UX, they will start battling over the
licensing. Once they are on even ground with free source code, the next logical
step is to try to out do each other by opening there licensing agreements more
than the next guy. Just try to view this as the first step. The battle is far
from over, but the first steps have been taken. I look forward to the time,
still a few years away, when the O/S will be free AND open. Computer Companies
will be service-oriented, rather than software oriented. Computer users will be
able to download and modify the O/S and apps as there needs see fit. In the
early days, companies bought the computer and hired programmers to write all
there apps. In the next millennium, the average worker will have the basic
skills to modify the apps for their purposes. We're not there now, but we've
taken the first steps.
Just my views.
John Gay
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From: Ben Collins <bcoll...@debian.org>
Subject: Re: Sun goes fully open source!
Date: 1999/10/02
Message-ID: <19991001231424.A29895@lappy.djj.state.va.us>#1/1
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On Sat, Oct 02, 1999 at 04:02:46AM +0100, John Gay wrote:
>
> download and run Solaris on my own system, make as many modifications as I like,
> as long as I don't re-distribute the changes. Sun is only trying to protect it's
Not being able to distribute your changes, is not free speech. It's crap and they
are only hoping to capitalize on the hardwork of others without giving them
anything truly worthwhile in return.
Ben
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