Novell and SuSE

On Jan 18, 2004, at 9:47 AM, Craig White wrote:

> I hope that you don't mean me - labeling SuSE as the devil.

I didn't mean you exclusively. ;-)

I have noticed that you have a tendency to express your opinions
forcefully, as do I.

> YAST code is a break of faith
> with the Free Software principals

I think this is way to strong. I see the YaST license as conforming to
the Free Software Definition of at least failing to meet that
definition in exactly the same way as the GPL does. But even if it
doesn't conform, that's hardly a break of faith. SUSE never swore
allegiance to the Free Software principals in the first place. They
distribute free software and support it. They comply with the license.
If they ever promised to do more than that, I missed it.

On the other hand, the YaST license stomps all over the Open Source
Definition so maybe there is whiff of brimstone about SUSE after all.