[Koha-devel] Open Source or Free Software?

[Anthony W Youngman]

Why not call it "Libre for Libraries"? :-)

Cheers,
Wol

-----Original Message-----
From: MJ Ray [mailto:markj at cloaked.freeserve.co.uk] 
Sent: 22 April 2003 12:44
To: Chris Cormack
Cc: koha-devel at lists.sourceforge.net
Subject: Re: [Koha-devel] Open Source or Free Software?


On 2003-04-22 12:12:17 +0100 Chris Cormack <chris at katipo.co.nz> wrote:

> In this case Rachel was meaning Free as in free beer.

OK, fair enough, but that's not free software, as was being discussed.

[...]
> The easiest way to do this on the front page of the koha site, in a 
> simple
> way that most people understand was to use the term Open Source.

People don't understand "Open Source" and the OSI definition is far 
too long to be memorable by the average human brain unless they are a 
specialist OSI-advocate.  The fuzzy concept of "open source" is part 
of the reason why the confusion marketing tactics of certain free 
software opponents are so successful.

> Having said that, as I said before I refer to Koha as Free Software, 
> or Open
> Source, depending on who im talking to. Which I think is the best 
> solution.

I disagree, as you've probably gathered.  ;-)  Very few non-specialist 
audiences understand either term, so an explanation is useful and I go 
for the clearest simplest explanation, honed over 20 years.

> As long as people understand its licensed under the GPL and what that
> entails .. i dont really mind what its called :-)

Well, yes, the important thing is the concept, not the brand, isn't 
it?  I agree entirely, so suggest that people reject the brand-as-king 
"Open Source" term.

-- 
MJR   http://mjr.towers.org.uk/   IM: slef at jabber.at
      This is my home web site.   This for Jabber Messaging.

How's my writing? Let me know via any of my contact details.


-------------------------------------------------------
This sf.net email is sponsored by:ThinkGeek
Welcome to geek heaven.
http://thinkgeek.com/sf
_______________________________________________
Koha-devel mailing list
Koha-devel at lists.sourceforge.net
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/koha-devel
-------------- next part --------------
An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed...
Name: InterScan_Disclaimer.txt
URL: </pipermail/koha-devel/attachments/20030423/d788c755/attachment-0002.txt>