On Wed, 20 Jan 1999, Jernej Zajc wrote: > Being a Caldera newbie I find Debian idea so interesting that > I'll probably switch. Point is, there is absolutely no > commercial interests driving the development into one direction > or the other. Developers have total control over what and how is > going to be implemented. It's what's made Linux (and other > high-end UNIX systems, such as Solaris, HP-UX) what they are > - versatile OSs that are configurable to the maximum extent. > Windoze, on the other hand, has been developed according to > wishes, not needs, of hobbie users that favour clicking icons > and stuff like that. I like it too, but found that my data is > indefinitely more important and want to use it in the future so > Linux is my best bet. Some of us are tired of relying on > ever-changing APIs that are being developed according to momental > needs (="which rival do we want to wipe out today, Balmer?") > > The less organization you have the more development will serve > real needs; developers that code in their spare time usually > know what they're doing and what is needed, and are not directed > by boss that puts generating revenue as priority no. 1. > > Do you think it will ever be possible that in a corporation the > work will not be driven by revenue? That shareholders will back > off and leave developers total control over their work? I think > not. >
Then you must not be paying attention. As I have said in nearly every message, this would not be a public corporation. The only shareholders would be the same people who control Debian today. The only change is that they will be paid and therefore will not need other jobs. > As for two kinds of developers, paid and unpaid ones, don't you > think there can arise some tensions between the groups? Money > changes much things. > Only if we let it. We're not animals. We're human. We can control ourselves. Just because it rarely happens doesn't mean it can't happen. > Debian is the only viable non-commercial Linux distribution > nowadays. It's the only major Linux distribution of which > development is propelled by absolutely no commercial interest. > Many many people want it to stay this way. After all, it's the > Linux way. > > Jernej None of this would change. As for your comment about the "Linux way", I don't buy it. Over the course of the last year Linux has become *heavily* commercialized. I am dead against that. What I propose is the exact opposite, securing the developers and users as the sole controlling force behind Debian. /----------------------------------------------------------\ | pretzelgod | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | (Eric Gillespie, Jr.) | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | |---------------------------<*>----------------------------| | "That's the problem with going from a soldier to a | | politician: you actually have to sit down and listen to | | people who six months ago you would've just shot." | | --President John Sheridan, Babylon 5 | \----------------------------------------------------------/
