> We will no longer distribute source code for the entirety of the Solaris operating system in real-time
In the case of Open Solaris, the code never came out from that point onwards. For Android, the likely end goal is to do the bare minimum of distributing only copyleft code that they don't own copyright to. Until those get replaced with a closed alternative.
Code is turned proprietary by huge corporate with massive development resources. No one could have predicted this.
Yet people ignore him and then realize that was one of those too late types
The basic argument is we all either benefit or struggle more when the work of the people, for the people, is locked up in proprietary closed tools and data formats.
When open tools and data are employed, anyone can step up to improve those tools, and the State can fund the creation and maintenance of necessary tools and when that is done the savings over longer dpans of time.
A simple example:
PDX needed water billing. A 40 million bid was tendered and a private company created a system that they own and the State Basically pays them to use. And the State pays for fixes etc too.
What happens when a 40 million dollar investment is made in people using open code to do the same thing?
Well, the State owns the tool, and the data is open meaning anyone needing access can use open tools for that purpose.
When it matures, the org that got it done can fade away, leaving a small crew to maintain
, or
Maybe that org approaches other municipalities interested in similar savings. Over time, that problem is solved and most of the nation is enjoying a great savings and developers make a fine living, etc..
Wash rinse and repeat to reduce the cost of government and the work of the people is lean, mean, effective.
Everyone enjoys the benefit of a lower cost environment too.
This had broad bipartisan support and who pushed it away?
Big companies paid lobby shut the effort down hard.
They could very easily see the popular appeal and chose to spend huge now to shit it down, paying the house speaker to block it all from having a vote.
It was going to pass easily.
I think many governments can see how to think this way.
Big companies do not want it.