On 04 Sep 2001 22:43:55 +0200, you wrote:

>"D. J. Bernstein" <djbcr.yp.to> writes:
>
>> Hans Insulander writes:
>> > You do not offer people to choice
>>
>> Some packages in /package allow distributor forks; some don't. This has
>> no relevance to the question.
>
>Yes it has! That's the whole question here - at least for me.
>
>No other package in the ports tree restricts the users right to make changes.
>If there is, we'd be glad if you told us, so we can remove them as well.
>
>> What is the harm of using /package? If the author releases a package in
>> /package, why would you want to move it somewhere else?
>
>Like I said: we want consistency within OpenBSD. Consistency with other
>operating systems is nice but has lower priority.
>
>You do not allow us to choose, thus we have to obey your wish and not
>distribute your package. It's that simple.
>
>> P.S. Am I the only engineer on this mailing list?
>
>No.

It's amazing how DJB can be smart enough to write some really great
software but not be able to realize how his license destroys it's
usability. If all of his software were under the BSD license and these
programs actually prove to be superior to alternatives they would be
used a lot more because people can use them as they see fit. If
/package is such a great idea, people would use it exactly as he
intends it to be used but since people don't have a choice to use it
as they see fit, they probably won't bother using it at all.

In spite of the intelligence and experience it takes to write code as
well as DJB does, all of his name calling, condescending remarks and
begging to be included in the ports tree fail to hide the simple fact
that he lacks both the stones and brains to put his software under a
BSD license and let his ideas stand on their technical merits alone.

If he really believes his software and ideas are so great, he should
have the guts to put them under the BSD license and let the public
decide whether or not his way is the best way doing things.

--
JCR

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