This is too off-topic for the list, but I couldn't resist :-)
On Wed, 19 Apr 2000, Phillip Helbig wrote:
> The whole linux thing has gotten some people to think that EVERY
> solution has to be free.
Maybe people that confuse the two meanings of "free" in Free Software? By
the sound of your rant it seems you don't, either. Or maybe you don't
agree that the Free Software development model ("Open Source") is not
inherently superior in the long run, _especially_ in big and complex
projects like OSes, compilers, etc. Think "peer review"!!!
And BTW, I think it's widely acknowledged that linux is already surpassing
(in technical terms) other commercial UNIXes in some areas. Lagging
behind many in others, sure, but take into account that it has been ported
to nearly anything with a microprocessor in it. (Same thing with gcc, it
may not be the fastest, but it's solid and it's available in a zillion
OSes)
On the other hand I agree it would be stupid to save a few bucks by
choosing a free (be it "libre" or "gratis") solution and then spending a
whole lot more on staff training and so on, if there's a commercial option
that would do the same thing for less overall cost. But beware the hidden
cost of commercial upgrades, enforced upon you by the well-known method of
trapping _your_ data in proprietary file formats.
At least propietary compilers are a safe thing in this respect: your data
isn't trapped, just make sure you stick to the language standards.
So no, I don't have problems paying for commercial stuff when I really
need it. I have bought a Lahey/Fujitsu Express f95 compiler for Linux (on
ix86 of course), and I can recommend it. So far it seems pretty good, the
executables are very fast, and it links well to (most) g77-compiled code.
The price is quite good, too.
Cheers,
Jose
--
Jose L Marin [log in to unmask]
Dept of Mathematics [log in to unmask]
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh EH14 4AS, U.K.
Phone: +44 131 451 3717
Fax: +44 131 451 3249
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