Free As In Freedom: Richard Stallman's Crusade For Free Software
by Sam Williams /
2002 / English / PDF
1.6 MB Download
Free as in Freedom
Free as in Freedom interweaves biographical snapshots of
GNU project founder Richard Stallman with the political, social
and economic history of the free software movement. It examines
Stallman's unique personality and how that personality has been
at turns a driving force and a drawback in terms of the
movement's overall success.
interweaves biographical snapshots of
GNU project founder Richard Stallman with the political, social
and economic history of the free software movement. It examines
Stallman's unique personality and how that personality has been
at turns a driving force and a drawback in terms of the
movement's overall success.Free as in Freedom
Free as in Freedom examines one
man's 20-year attempt to codify and communicate the ethics of
1970s era "hacking" culture in such a way that later generations
might easily share and build upon the knowledge of their
computing forebears. The book documents Stallman's personal
evolution from teenage misfit to prescient adult hacker to
political leader and examines how that evolution has shaped the
free software movement. Like Alan Greenspan in the financial
sector, Richard Stallman has assumed the role of tribal elder
within the hacking community, a community that bills itself as
anarchic and averse to central leadership or authority. How did
this paradox come about?
examines one
man's 20-year attempt to codify and communicate the ethics of
1970s era "hacking" culture in such a way that later generations
might easily share and build upon the knowledge of their
computing forebears. The book documents Stallman's personal
evolution from teenage misfit to prescient adult hacker to
political leader and examines how that evolution has shaped the
free software movement. Like Alan Greenspan in the financial
sector, Richard Stallman has assumed the role of tribal elder
within the hacking community, a community that bills itself as
anarchic and averse to central leadership or authority. How did
this paradox come about?Free as in Freedom
Free as in Freedom provides an
answer. It also looks at how the latest twists and turns in the
software marketplace have diminished Stallman's leadership role
in some areas while augmenting it in others.Finally,
provides an
answer. It also looks at how the latest twists and turns in the
software marketplace have diminished Stallman's leadership role
in some areas while augmenting it in others.Finally,Free as
in Freedom
Free as
in Freedom examines both Stallman and the free software
movement from historical viewpoint. Will future generations see
Stallman as a genius or crackpot? The answer to that question
depends partly on which side of the free software debate the
reader currently stands and partly upon the reader's own outlook
for the future. 100 years from now, when terms such as
"computer," "operating system" and perhaps even "software" itself
seem hopelessly quaint, will Richard Stallman's particular vision
of freedom still resonate, or will it have taken its place
alongside other utopian concepts on the 'ash-heap of history?'
examines both Stallman and the free software
movement from historical viewpoint. Will future generations see
Stallman as a genius or crackpot? The answer to that question
depends partly on which side of the free software debate the
reader currently stands and partly upon the reader's own outlook
for the future. 100 years from now, when terms such as
"computer," "operating system" and perhaps even "software" itself
seem hopelessly quaint, will Richard Stallman's particular vision
of freedom still resonate, or will it have taken its place
alongside other utopian concepts on the 'ash-heap of history?'