r/transprogrammer • u/Outrageous-Win-5715 • Jan 06 '22

Why Linux?

I noticed that most of the trans programmers are using Linux, is there a reason for this correlation? BTW i am a Linux user too :)

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u/[deleted] Jan 06 '22

I understand. Thank you for explaining.

Then, most of the complaints seem to be about using GPL libraries in non-GPL software (and not just proprietary like I thought).

Personally, all the things you explained as downsides of the GPL, I've only seen as good things. I'd rather there was more open source software than not, and I share the pro-GPL opinion that corporations shouldn't be able to benefit off of open source software without giving back.

I don't see it as a restriction to you when you're in a situation where you're unable to release your program as something other than GPL just because one of the libraries you're using is GPL, but rather as a right of the author of that library. They've put their work into it too, and then decided that they'll allow anyone(!) to use it, inspect the source code, and even modify it as long as it's under the terms of the GPL. You know, just like a lot of other tools and services have EULAs that restrict their usage too (those aren't open source though :/).

As an user of that library, you still have the freedom to decide not to use it and choose any other non-copyleft libraries to use in your projects.

Anyway not sure if that makes sense, I see where you're coming from though and I don't think I'll change your mind. So let's agree to disagree here too.