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Re:GPL vs BSD, a matter of sustainability
by jlgaddis on Friday February 08, 2013 @12:12PM
(#5188877)
Yep, my mistake. I got that far, started my comment, and got distracted by the phone. When I hung up, I looked back at my comment, thought I was done, and submitted it... then realized I hadn't finished reading. My bad.
Unfortunately, it's not quite that black and white.
When it comes to operating systems, for example, I believe in using "the right tool for the job". Depending on the situation, that might be Windows, Mac OS, or Linux.
The same holds true with the BSD vs. GPL argument. In some cases, the BSD is the better license. In others, the GPL is.
Personally, I am thankful the GPL exists. Were it not for the GPL, I would not be typing this comment on this laptop running Debian. However, my MacBook Pro and iPhone are sitting just a few feet away from me. I likely wouldn't have either of those if it weren't for the BSD License.
As a user, I am thankful for those who release their code under the GPL. As a developer (and I use that term very loosely), I put any code I publish under the BSD license. I do not care what anyone else does with it -- if someone can use my code to improve their own commercial product, so be it.
The BSD vs. GPL debate will never die because there is no one "winner" in all cases -- and we all benefit from that.