Free as in Freedom: Richard Stallman's Crusade for Free Software

Author	Sam Williams	Entered	2002-06-14 11:40:45 by bcrowell
Edit	edit data record	Freedom	Copylefted: anyone can read, modify, and sell (disclaimer)
Subject	Q.A - Mathematics. Computer science (Computer Science)
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Is it right?
by Ben Crowell (crowell09 at stopspam.lightandmatter.com (change 09 to current year)) on 2003-03-22 20:14:29, review #246
http://www.lightandmatter.com

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This is an interesting read for anyone with an interest in open-source software or free information. Some of the historical stuff is interesting simply because it's, well, historical -- it dates back to an era that seems all but incomprehensible today. Password protecting access to a time-sharing system was controversial, for example!

I'm just not so sure about the book's accuracy. An article I wrote, making use of some facts and ideas from Free As In Freedom, prompted Richard Stallman to e-mail me, and although I hadn't explicitly referred to the book in my article, Stallman volunteered that it sounded like some of my facts were wrong because I got them from that book. One thing that I'm not sure about, and that Stallman specifically objected to, is Williams' use of Stallman as an icon of the Cathedral approach to free information, as opposed to Eric Raymond as the paragon of the Bazaar method.

Information wants to be free, so make some free information.

The above review is copyrighted by its author, and is copylefted under the following license:
Open Publication License 1.0 without options A or B

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The contents of this web page, except the parts contributed by members of The Assayer, are copyright (c) 2000 by Benjamin Crowell, and are copyleft licensed under the Open Publication License 1.0, without options A or B.