I agree with points made by both sides of this argument, so I suspect
that both sides have something to contribute.
The issue seems to boil down to Gnome or KDE.
Aside: I do not agree with the point of view that lots of choices
are good (they are, but not for the masses; there is a lot of value
in having one desktop setup - enough value, I think, that you guys
ought to figure out how to be working on the same thing.
So which one?
On the Gnome side, it is free software (perceived to be a plus by some
loud people) but more importantly, it talks C, not C++. I personally
think that is a big win. Big, big win. C++ is not appropriate for
system services, in my not so humble opinion.
On the KDE side, I'm less clear. As far as I can tell, it's neither free
software nor commercial software. That's sort of weird. There needs to
be some way that the software will continue to be healthy and supported
(and contrary to the opinions of many on this list, free software is not
the only way to do that). If KDE were really free, there is a chance
that the Gnome/KDE efforts could merge; but KDE isn't free enough that
that is going to happen. If KDE were really commercial, then there is a
chance that it could succeed because it could have enough money to hire
people to work on it.
I think the KDE guys need to either incorporate and make a business out
of their desktop or come to terms that their license is a problem. Their
current path seems pretty flawed. Just my opinion, but that's what it
looks like from here.
#define Rant
I think the rest of you need to wake the hell up and stop whining
about free software. The Linux world needs non-free software in a
big way. People are constantly asking for word processors, spread
sheets, databases, etc. Who wants to write that junk for free?
Nobody. So does that mean we don't get software unless RedHat pays
for it like Gnome? Come on. Linux needs a better answer than that.
RedHat, as much as I love 'em, doesn't have the revenue to fund all
the software that needs to be done. Get used to commercial software -
it's what can take Linux into the mainstream.
#undef Rant
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