Hello,
I ended up having a doubt about calling something OSS and using some
widely available OS tools to build something whose source code you don't
release. This is an advent of participating in a demonstration of a
software package which is made 90% using OSS like PostgreSQL, etc. but
the source code is not given along with.
Case Points:
1. The software uses many Open Source Tools available widely for use,
example: PostgreSQL, Python etc.
2. The software openly declares it is making use of OSS fully.
3. The developer accepts he hasn't done any significant 'value-addition'
to the individual sofwares he used as well as the combination of them.
4. Though he uses OSS for his overall development, he doesn't to release
the source code. He intelligently never terms the software to be OSS,
rather just says he is using 100% OSS and tools.
5. The sodtware is priced at an acceptable price suitable for Indian
medium and small scale industries, mainly because all the pieces which
make up the software as a whole is available free as in 'beer'
My questions are:
1. If someone is going to use some Open Source Tool and develop
something (which he accepts doesnt have much value addition), is it
right to hide the source code from the users who pay and buy the software ?
2. Though having a price tag is not opposed OSS, but restricting the
main freedom to have source code, is it not condemnable ??
3. Isn't it ethically wrong to make use of OSS and in return give
nothing to the OSS ?? :-S :(
--
With Regards
Parthan ('technofreak')
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Research Assistant @ NRC-FOSS and Python\PHP Developer
A Proud Tuxian and an Ubuntero
