I have been reading some of the posts regarding supporting 95-98-xp stuff. I have alot of the same emotions. I am trying to start a local support system for software that is open source. Im a big fan and user of Dsl, so I have been collecting open source apps that are runable in dsl and win.( Open office, firefox etc.)
Questions I have are
Are all packages in the base DSL open source?, Certainly some of the mydsl apps are not.
is it 'bad' or contridictory to help M$ people learn and use open source software at other than the operating system level?
Any thoughts and notes would be helpfull.
the site Im using to accumlate my ideas on the project is www.losug.org But please be gentel in any comments about it, Its not ready for prime time yet and changes daily.
Thanksbeen covered, do a search.
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Are all packages in the base DSL open source?, Certainly some of the mydsl apps are not.
I don't see why any apps would "certainly" not be open source. That sounds as if you're having a difficult time believing that a desktop could be useable with only open source. In any case, yes I think it's all open source. There MIGHT be one or two things i haven't noticed, but i have strong doubts about the existence of closed software in DSL.
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is it 'bad' or contridictory to help M$ people learn and use open source software at other than the operating system level?
I don't think it's bad at all. I dunno about contradictory, considering i don't know what it is that it might be contradicting. Perhaps you could rephrase the question a bit.Thanks for the replies.
1) After just a quick look, I found xpaint lists a copy right section and permission to distrbute and use with out cost. I thought that that makes it Freeware, not open source. Would not the gpl, or similar licence be needed?
If the developers of dsl have it as a goal and standard to only include software of a certain set of licenses, than maybe freeware is in it.
I am only trying to educate myself on the concepts and practices of open source, However its done, is fine with me.
2) is it fair to say:
If I can download DSL, then I should be able to redistribute (it in its original form, etc etc ) to others.
If they ask, I would say that the linux kernel and most of the base programs and tools are open source, but that some distributions may include freeware or even shareware.
3) Some of the posts on the w98 topic indicated that no effort should be spent supporting or helping people that rely on win systems. Is it contradictory to support open source use on a proprietary operating system, when the operating system seems to work to eliminate open source.
4) Off hand dismissals should always be ignored.
Thanks again.1) The term "freeware", as I understand it, is a general term for any software that is available at no cost. In this definition, open source would fall into that category. Usually open source software is set apart from freeware, however, since it is always open source but not necessarily always free of cost. Also, freeware does not always allow redistribution.
The GPL is just one of several ways to licence open source software. The only thing that is shared by all is the fact that the source code is available to the general public. Depending on its license, the code may be limited in what you are allowed to do with it...you might only be able to modify it for personal use, or you may be able to modify and redistribute with certain other limitations (as with GPL), or you may be able to do whatever you want with it.
All of the binary programs in DSL are released under GPL or GPL-compatible license. You can find out whatever you need to know about their licenses by visiting the websites of the various programs' developers.
2) As the DSL distribution has been released under GPL, you are allowed to modify and redistribute, as long as the redistributed product abides by and remains under GPL license. Some distros include shareware, but DSL does not...it contains NOTHING that cannot be redistributed.
3) I don't believe there is anything wrong or contrary with supporting open source software on proprietary operating systems. I may have misunderstood the purpose of the win98 thread, but i was under the impression that it concerned support of Windows and Windows users by Linux software....in that respect I think it's a waste of time and resources to cater to people who want a windows-like environment just because they don't want to have to learn anything new.