Date: Sun, 24 Dec 2000 00:10:40 -0700 From: Wes Peters <wes@softweyr.com> To: Matt Dillon <dillon@earth.backplane.com> Cc: Dennis <dennis@etinc.com>, hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: FreeBSD vs Linux, Solaris, and NT Message-ID: <3A45A170.5F3FD1D8@softweyr.com> References: <5.0.0.25.0.20001220192150.01f42450@mail.etinc.com> <5.0.0.25.0.20001221120837.022ab0a0@mail.etinc.com> <5.0.0.25.0.20001221184852.03ceab10@mail.etinc.com> <200012220029.eBM0TxE82553@earth.backplane.com>
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Matt Dillon wrote:
>
> In that respect, I personally will not run anything inside my kernel that
> I don't have source for. Now, I don't run frame-relay or T1's into
> FreeBSD boxes, so I'm not commenting on your software specifically. I'm
> commenting in general. The problem is not only support, but also
> protection against obsolescence. Companies upgrade their products,
> companies go out of business, companies stop supporting products.
> Without source you can wind up S.O.L. with a binary-only device driver.
> It's just too risky for me.
Due diligence. Any company you buy critical software from should have the
source code to the software escrowed, with written policies they will show
you outlining how they archive the source code and the tools required to
build it into the escrow. If they don't, you shouldn't be doing business
with them.
Open source projects place the onerous of providing a reasonable escrow on
the consumer. ;^)
--
"Where am I, and what am I doing in this handbasket?"
Wes Peters Softweyr LLC
wes@softweyr.com http://softweyr.com/
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