From: Björn Stenberg <bjorn_at_haxx.se>
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2004 13:07:35 +0200

Mayur M. Patel wrote:
> I understand that much of the source code for the IHP may be proprietary.
> That is why I would recommend setting up firmware that is module based, i.e.
> you could keep the parts you think are vital for your proprietary needs and
> open source the other parts.

That would require them to rewrite their code, which naturally they do not want to spend money on just to give it away. If the problem really is that some of the code is licensed from others, the solution is as simple as it is obvious: Only release your own code.

Open source is not about packaging shrink-wrapped boxes of software, it's about sharing your work. If what you release cannot be compiled, that's fine. Mozilla couldn't be compiled when it was released. Neither could OpenOffice. Look at where they are now. *All* code is helpful, even if it is only used to understand some obscure part of the hardware.

This "we can't release the code because some of it is licensed from someone else" excuse is being repeated by just about every company whose users want to improve their products. But it doesn't hold water.

-- 
Björn
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Received on 2004-07-05