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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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What sense is licensing operating system on BSD license? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 day ago by mlxdy@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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Change my mind.

Companies are just taking BSD code and don't contribute to it. At the end they're selecting Linux even if there's licensing risk and they have contribute to code. Why? Because Linux have a lot of contributors, that makes it much more advanced system with more features. Also companies which want to support Linux don't have to worry that someone would close their code or code they funded with money. It's not about competition but collaboration. GPL license allowed us also to sell own open-source solutions.

FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD are behind Linux. I love that systems (especially OpenBSD), but I don't see a point in contributing or donating to them. Instead of being ready to use solutions they're trying to be base for commercial closed-source products and it would be great as contributors could get something from that, but they get nothing.

I understand that BSD see closed source as something cool and way to commercialize software, but in today times where a lot of devices have 24/7 access to internet, microphones, cameras and at the same time to sensitive data it's extremely dangerous. Closed source is used to hide backdoors, acts of surveillance and keeping monopoly on market which obviously stop evolution of software.

Please tell me how BSD license can be good solution for operating system. It's not about offending BSD, but as someone who love open source software I hate closed source software I would like to know how I can defend this license.

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[–] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

This is the permissive vs copyleft debate. And it's old as time. I suppose there's a lot of nuance with licensing. If you're a company at the receiving end, you probably love permissive licenses. They're easy, offer the maximum amount of flexibility and freedom. It's so short you probably don't even need a team of lawyers... If you write software, it's a bit more complicated. Do you want to cater to those people, make it as easy as possible to adopt your software? Then maybe consider BSD/Apache/MIT. Do you want to build a community, stop your competitors from just taking code? Want to try to ensure it stays open? Then maybe consider a copyleft license.

I sometimes don't care. Write some stuff for me (as a hobby) but that's my entire motivation. I don't care what people do with the results of my weekend of effort. Never plan to hire a lawyer or bother with it in case something happrns with it. Or it's just a pile of snippets. I'll dump it for other people to use and release that either WTFPL or some other permissive license. People can do whatever they like with it. With the stuff I'm a bit more proud of, or I plan to return to, I'll choose AGPL.

I suppose with operating systems, it's a bit similar? I mean there is a community for both ideas. Seems there are people who like either of them. They'll have slightly different ideology, tasks to accomplish and different goals.