Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!usc!ucsd!ucbvax!DINO.SQUIBB.COM!BRUC From: BRUC@DINO.SQUIBB.COM ("Bob Bruccoleri 683-6165", 609) Newsgroups: comp.sys.sgi Subject: Re: GNU Emacs compiling/executable. Message-ID: Date: 4 Jan 91 21:58:00 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The Internet Lines: 39 Dear Vernon, I honestly doubt whether the Free Software Foundation would object to SGI providing a repository for its binaries as long as SGI made its patches to the GNU sources available as well. I think that the FSF cares much more about the spirit of their license rather than its letter, and they ask people to contact them if there is any question or if alternative arrangements can be made. I think SGI is making an error by not assisting the GNU effort more. Above all, most GNU software is very high quality. Having it available on Iris's increases their value to customers. The cost of one or two SGI engineers working to maintain GNU software is much less than the value provided to all SGI customers. In addition, the good will generated by helping such an altruistic cause will also be helpful to company sales. I understand that SGI is worried about GNU software cutting into sales of its own products, but I think there is limited overlap between the "markets" for free, unsupported software and for paid, supported software. I don't see how the liability issue for GNU software is any different than 4Dgifts. In fact, the flight demo is more dangerous than any GNU software. Its flight simulation is sufficiently incorrect that a person who learns to use it will have a harder time learning how to fly a real airplane afterwards, and will be more likely to crash. Thankfully, the Iris user community and individuals at SGI are working to make the GNU programs work on our workstations. But it would be better if corporate SGI got more involved with the GNU project. Sincerely yours, Robert E. Bruccoleri +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------+ | Robert E. Bruccoleri, Ph.D. | Macromolecular Modeling | | Hat 1: Research Leader | Bristol-Myers Squibb | | Hat 2: Interim Internet Network Manager | Pharmaceutical Research | | Hat 3: Whatever is Necessary | Institute | | bruc@dino.squibb.com | P.O. Box 4000 | | (609) 683-6165 | Princeton, NJ 08543 USA | +-----------------------------------------+----------------------------+