Re: FAQ release! Need help!

[Todd Graham Lewis <tlewis mindspring net>]

On Thu, 3 Sep 1998, Mark Galassi wrote:

> I agree: we are a GNU project, and the preference in the GNU world
> (not just Stallman's) is to use "free software".
> 
> I see no objection to calling GNOME "free software (sometimes also
> called open source software)".

I object.

1) Free software has a murky definition; someone please point me to the
equivalent of "The Open Source Definition", v1.0.

2) I severaly dislike using imprecise terms like this.  Specifically,
I want to make clear that traditionally non-FSF-related communities,
such as xBSD and Mozilla, are our bretheren.  Stallman has said, if I
am remember correctly, that BSD-style licenses are not free software.

If this were an issue of the FAQ being inaccurate, then that would be
one thing.  The FAQ is accurate in this case, however; you just happen not
to be fond of my terminology.  I really do prefer the term "open source",
I think that it's the better term, and so I would like to stick with it.

Does anyone else feel strongly that it should be "free software" instead
of "open source"?  If there's a groundswell of opinion in favor, then I
might change it.

--
Todd Graham Lewis            32°49'N,83°36'W          (800) 719-4664, x2804
******Linux******         MindSpring Enterprises      tlewis@mindspring.net