[Info-vax] OT(?): Linux: developed by corporates. *NOT* developed by unpaid volunteers.

[Simon Clubley]

On 2015-03-29, Simon Clubley <clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP> wrote:
> On 2015-03-29, David Froble <davef at tsoft-inc.com> wrote:
>> johnwallace4 at yahoo.co.uk wrote:
>>> Various Linuxes may be free to download but there are lots of people
>>> being paid by their big-name employers to do Linux development. The 
>>> proportion of input from unpaid volunteers isn't quite negligible but
>>> it seems it's a lot smaller than you've been thinking (how does 13%
>>> sound?).
>>
>> Linux started as something that was free, and if anyone wants to play in 
>> that sandbox, it's my impression that they cannot charge for the OS. 
>> Right?  So, from that perspective, it's free.
>>
>
> Wrong. Totally, totally wrong. Sorry David. :-)
>

There was an additional thing at the back of my mind when I made that
statement which is why I replied as firmly as I did. :-)

ACT is an Ada compiler company known in certain circles for the quality
of their work. The compiler they wrote is based on gcc and hence is
covered by the GPL.

They actively develop and enhance this compiler; they are not simply
a Red Hat style distributor. They maintain their own branch of gcc
to a safety critical standard:

http://www.adacore.com/gnatpro-safety-critical

My point is that they are producing high quality software which is
GPL based at it's core.

As per the GPL, they are only required to give the source code from
this branch to their paying customers, but they regularly push some
changes back into the public FSF branch of gcc.

BTW, if the prices I have seen mentioned for their support contracts are
accurate, then they are expensive - and people willingly pay those prices.

Simon.

-- 
Simon Clubley, clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world