On Sunday 09 December 2001 06:31, you wrote: > > Many Java and C compilers are not freely distributable in source > > form either, yet we support them... Okay, that's not the same > > thing, > > As you say, it's not the same thing. > > > but it seems we're in the business of spreading the Gospel of > > Christ not necessarily the Gospel of Open Source. My point is > > open source in all its glory is still just a means to an end, not > > necessarily the end in and of itself. > > As you said, Open Source IS a means to an end. That's why you are > using it, because it IS an effective means. Closed source is not > such an effective means. > > > If an external library does it faster and more compact than we > > could on our own, I don't see anything against it, especially if > > we can distribute it ourselves and the end user doesn't even have > > to know. > > Will you see something against it when Objectspace pulls it and you > are left high and dry?
Or, if Objectspace goes out of business and doesn't release the code.
