I get really irritated when pundits (usually those trying to stamp out Free Software) describe the GNU GPL as “viral” or “infectious.” You have to make a conscious decision to link your code against GPL code! You can’t get “infected” by the GPL through any means other than your own choice. If you don’t want to release your code as Free Software, go find someone else’s libraries to link against. If you want to leverage the work of thousands of other developers from around the world, you play by their rules. Period. Most software companies require you to pay money to use their library, while GPL code developers require you to share and share alike. If you don’t like it, that’s fine – go create your own software ecosystem. But quit trying to convince the world that the GPL is bad just because you don’t like its terms.
Chad's Thoughts on Twitter
- 3-minus 2 weeks til I have my Droid X! (assuming @fedexdelivers doesn't f up my shipping like they did @JenniePatten's)
- You reversed my shrinkinator! Curse you Perry the Platypus! http://twitpic.com/2l09gm
- Correction: congratulations, @FedExDelivers, your reputation as the least timely and most unhelpful shipping company is still intact!
- Congratulations, @fedex, your reputation as the least timely and most dishonest shipping company is still intact!
- I like @echofon for Firefox, but the fact that I still have to write 'd username' to send a DM, even on the Messages tab, is just stupid.
- My company is now blocking all bit.ly URLs. Fantastic. Makes Twitter about as useful as a second pinky finger on my left hand.
- If President Obama is a secret Muslim, he's not a very observant one: http://bit.ly/cLXbfd (thanks @mattyglesias and @AdamSerwer)
- Smile Bianca! http://twitpic.com/2eovid
- About to see @ScottPilgrim! I'm ready for the epic epicness!
- Looking forward to seeing @ScottPilgrim this weekend!
