GPL-style availability of NetScape 5.0 sourcecodes announced

[Jonathan Eunice]

John Duksta (john_duksta at INS.COM) wrote:

>Quote:
>
>"This aggressive move will enable Netscape to harness the creative power 
>of thousands of programmers on the Internet by incorporating their best 
>enhancements into future versions of Netscape's software. "
>
>My Interpretation:
>
>We're losing money, so instead of paying our own programmers to make
>enhancements to Netscape, we'll release the code to the Net and let
>people on the Net write our software for free.

Right you are!   But I take that as a positive. )B Isn't it pretty savvy
for the "harness the network" company to change its development mode
in order to "harness the network"?   

Like Linux and gnu projects, if you don't want to contribute time and
energy, no one will fault you for staying home.  The people of Netscape 
Communications Corp. simply joins LT and RMS in inviting you, should you 
desire and be able, to contribute to their brainchild and greater glory.  

I don't see it RMS-style as some sort of noble undertaking or religious
calling, but it's an interesting hobby that'll keep you off the streets 
and out of trouble.


--
Jonathan Eunice
Analyst and IT Advisor