Messages in this thread | | | Date | Sat, 27 Sep 1997 11:05:13 -0700 | From | "Jeffrey B. Siegal" <> | Subject | Re: Solaris 2.6 and Linux |
| |
At least for Linux/MIPS a significant fraction of the people interested in using it for new hardware want Linux for their embedded systems of various types. For the embedded market the price/performance ratio is very important and that's exactly the point where nothing can outperform Free Software.
FSF-style Free Software (Linux included) carries an unacceptable cost for most embedded systems: the need to distribute source. No one wants to distribute source code for the embedded control system for every device they manufacture and distribute (think microwave ovens, cars, elevators, VCRs, etc.).
Its not that its a secret, its just that its a pain in the ass.
I discussed making an exception for this case with RMS several years ago, and although he didn't object to it philosophically, no one was willing to invest the necessary effort to properly draft the appropriate language for the GPL.
| |