[oclug] Linux kernel development loses BitKeeper

[Brad Barnett]

On Wed, 6 Apr 2005 16:55:58 -0400 (EDT)
Jon Earle <je_oclug at kronos.honk.org> wrote:

> On Wed, 6 Apr 2005, Ross Jordan wrote:
> 
> >> I particularly found it funny how Larry referred to Linux as "a
> >platform > who's stated goal and track record is to reverse engineer
> >everything > they find useful".
> >
> > He says this like its a bad thing.
> 
> It is.. it violates someone's hard earned efforts and right to make
> money  from said efforts.
> 

It doesn't violate anything of the sort, Jon.

It's perfectly legal to reverse engineer software.  It has been done since
the very first piece of code was written.  It's given you many parts
of your Linux kernel.  It's given you quite a few pieces of software, some
of which you use every day.

In short, if you believe that it is morally wrong to reverse engineer a
piece of code, then you should stop using Linux and other associated
software right now. 

It isn't something that is only done in the GPL or free software world
either.  People reverse engineer software every day, use what they learn,
and the sell the results in their own software.

I find it amusing that you often take a very strong "conservative"
political viewpoint, only to become very confused and suddenly adopt a
very different political tact.  One where the state should somehow
protect your invention from being emulated or copied in any form.  A
viewpoint expressed above, that is far beyond current law and legislation
in place.