[OT] Free software versus software idea patents (was: Python benefits over Cobra)

[Chris Angelico]

On Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 5:39 PM, Steven D'Aprano
<steve+comp.lang.python at pearwood.info> wrote:
> Do you want to know who scares me? Google and Apple. Google, because
> they're turning software from something you run on your own computer to
> something you use on a distant server you have no control over. And
> Apple, because they're turning the computer from a general purpose
> computing device you control, to a locked-down, restricted, controlled
> specialist machine that only runs what they permit you to run. But I
> digress.

I agree about Apple, but Google are not "turning software... into";
they are providing an option that involves such things. They are not
stopping you from running software on your own computer, and they
never can.

One of my hobbies is running (and, let's face it, playing) online
games. The MUD system is similar to what Google does, only more so;
the server has *everything* and the client is just basic TELNET. Yes,
some clients have some nice features, but they don't need to, and some
of my players use extremely basic terminals. But nobody complains that
they're playing a game they have no control over (and the only
complaints about "a distant server" relate to ping times).

Having the option to cloud things is a Good Thing. Yes, you lose
control if you put your data on someone else's cloud, but if you want
the functionality, you pay the price. If you don't like that price,
you stick with your desktop software.

Chris Angelico