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From: aaron@funcity.njit.edu (Aaron Watters)
Subject: Re: scheme reading [Re: GNU Extension Language Plans]
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Date: Sun, 23 Oct 1994 20:29:53 GMT
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I apologize.  I thought my posts on this thread were kinda funny and had
some points of interest, but in retrospect they were mean spirited.
[I'm trying to put into practice various pieces of advice I recieved
privately, like "don't be such a moron".]

Scheme is a beautiful little language and could be a great extension/
scripting language if it had standard portable interfaces to a large
number of libraries, and if it had native object support with
inheritance -- I understand some mutant strains do...
[Python certainly does.]

I think the GPL and its variants should be changed to something
less restrictive and simpler -- in one case I know of a developer did some
work using GNU stuff and ended ripping a lot of it out in order
to avoid the bother of complying with the terms.  He says next
time he'll license proprietary source with binary distribution
rights (such things exist, and can be very nice).  Clearly, in this
case, the GPL didn't encourage the use of freely copiable software.

Next time I see him I'll recommend python and it's associated tools,
since he can use them however he pleases, as long as he credits the
source.  A gnu-scheme would fair better in the world if it had
a copyright like the ones on TCL and python.

No more comments on books.  Sorry,sorry,sorry.
        Aaron Watters
        Department of Computer and Information Sciences
        New Jersey Institute of Technology
        University Heights
        Newark, NJ 07102
                phone (201)596-2666
		fax (201)596-5777
		home phone (908)545-3367
		email: aaron@vienna.njit.edu

