On Mon, 2003-09-29 at 12:49, George Gambill wrote:
> >
> > I have made no attempt to study the license on any version of FoxPro -
> > probably since 2.1 or 3.0. I refuse to believe that there is any
> > conceivable way that you could use any version within the terms of the
> > EULA on more than one machine with only a single user license.
>
> Actually, under the FoxPro EULA, I can load the development package on any
> (and all) computer that "I" use.
>
> Further, I have unlimited distribution rights for the runtime version with
> no restrictions placed on OS (ver 6.0). The OS restrictions are for 7.0 and
> later.
>
> Still further, using the LTSP model, I see not problem with either 7.0 or
> 8.0. So you buy a license for the server, who cares. You are servicing
> 100+ workstations for less than $9.00 per station. That makes for a good
> business decision.
>
> >
> > More specifically, the EULA itself...try reading through any Microsoft
> > product EULA and then GPL license and compare the two. Once you have
> > figured out that software is available which doesn't restrict
> > where you
> > install it, how you install it, give you the source code so
> > you can fix
> > things, and allow you virtually unfettered rights of
> > 're-distribution',
>
> My VFP 6.0 license has all this.
>
> > I fail to see using a Microsoft solution - even within wine as
> > acceptable.
> >
> > Craig
>
> Thanks for your thoughts.
----
Interesting that you are limiting this to version 6. If they are now
shipping version 8, does it really do anyone any service to encourage
the use or even demonstrate the twice replaced version of VFP running on
Linux? I guess that I am missing the point. If nothing else, you are
acknowledging that Microsoft is about restrictive licensing - clearly
the thing that Installfest is trying to educate about the alternatives.
I think you 'loose' in your interpretation of what is allowed in the
licenses of FoxPro software but I don't want to degenerate this into
what is or isn't in Microsoft's licenses - especially a product that I
will never buy, never use and never recommend.
As for version 7/8 - see
<
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=6869>
I know that my experiences can't be unique. I was able to get a fairly
good understanding of the server daemons while still using my Macintosh
and Windows computers for my desktop applications but it wasn't until I
committed myself to using Linux on the desktop that I really started to
get it - I could actually 'fix' configuration issues with a text editor
and not by throwing away preference files or editing obscure registry
settings. Nothing accelerated my learning as much as using Linux for
everything.
Admittedly, there isn't any Linux database systems that provide as
development rich environment as Access, Visual.net or Visual FoxPro at
this time. Considering that Microsoft is about tie in/lock down to
Microsoft Servers & Microsoft clients, I would rather put my support
behind GNUe Tools or some other code generating software and use the
open source software model because the licensing model is not
restrictive.
Moreover, I remember when dBase II was all the rage and FoxBase came out
with their better code generators. The open source packages need more
critical mass to push the product along.
Craig
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