Josef Dalcolmo dalcolmo@vh-s.de writes:
My point is: it would be great if the whole GNU/Linux system would be ported to Windows: Linux as a program running in Windows. That should be possible, just like any other port to a new machine, and would immediately allow access to the whole rich world of Linux applications. As a next step, cut-and-paste between Windows and Linux could be implemented making this a wonderful solution to benefit of many free software solutions.
As far as I remembered, RMS was against porting free software on proprietary OS. If I remember correctly, the argument was: "Don't improve proprietary OS with our free software".
However, in my humble opinion, I see this step as a transition step towards a fully free world.
For example, people a reluctant to install Linux on their Windows machine. But now it is possible to install on it OpenOffice.org (or The Gimp) and to show them the power of free software. The last step is to pull them on GNU/Linux. I think they will be less against the move as they already know part of the applications.
What do you think of that?
And what about policy? If we provide free software for proprietary OS (like Windows), should we insist to put the source on the same package/CD? Should we put a prominent warning saying "this software is free software with the following 4 rights bla bla"[1]?
Best regards, david
[1] Of course, in that case, they could edit the source to suppress the warning. It would be thus an incentive to understand and get into the source, and thus its philosophy. ;)