My CS 404 Thoughts

The topic of free and/or open source software is one that my wife is familiar with, as I am a somewhat vocal advocate of both. Since I started using Linux two years ago I have followed the Free Software and Open Source movements fairly closely. While I don't know all of the nuances of the GNU General Public License and I can't clearly mark the dividing line between the GNU system and the rest of the utilities in Linux, I have come to a conclusion about the difference between them. It seems to me that the Free Software Foundation, led by Richard Stallman, is advocating a philosophical ideal, while the Open Source Initiative is striving for more of a practical, use-able compromise. In light of the overnight "tanking" of Red Hat's and VA Linux's IPOs, it is relatively easy to dismiss the financial viability of either model. However, Red Hat is now arguably a successful business. VA Linux operates Sourceforge, Slashdot, and a couple other resources for the Open Source community. While neither of these two companies has Microsoft's cash flow, I would say that both are successful. I am not aware of any such companies operating strictly within the ideological area covered by Richard Stallman's Free Software Foundation. This is not to say there isn't one, but I think that the difference between philosophical ideal and practical compromise may be a cause.