Please tone down the GPL3 paranoia

[Yann E. MORIN]

David, Bruce, Rob,
All,

On Friday 15 September 2006 175, David Daney wrote:
> How dare you question the maintainer of the Rob Landley Busybox project. 
>   He is the maintainer, it is his project.  Dissent is neither 
> appreciated, nor tolerated.

Please calm down. This subject is really 'hot', and being 'diplomatic' is more
than suited.

First, for the records, Bruce Perens is the original author of what later
became what is now known as BusyBox (Rob's the historian here!). Thanks to
him. On the other hand, he hasn't been (actively) participating for some
time, which doen't means he (or any one else for that matters) can be turned
down that way.

Second, BusyBox is _not_ Rob's project. Rob is merely the maintainer, which
means he has some latitude in doing his *technical* stuff (which, I always
said, he's managing real good from my point of view). On the other hand, he
also has to cope with *'political'* decisions, which is not the easier part
(nor the most enjoyable part either), and once again, I think he's /asking/
the right questions, as well as answering those with sense.

But that does _not_ make BusyBox _his_ project. It's *ours*. His, yours,
Bruce's, mine, and every other contributor's, past, present and future.

As a third point, yes, 'dissent' is accepted. If one disagrees with the
'steering' of a GPLx project, and has a way to legally obtain the sources,
he can 'fork' the project. That's one goal of the GPL (v2 at least)! Up to him
then to make this fork viable and live.

In the hope that none of you will take this as flaming, which I tried it not
to be.

Now, my statement on the "GPLv2 or later" vs "GPLv2 only", if it matters:
 - I'm a pro-"V2 only" guy.

Regards,
Yann E. MORIN.

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