[OSGeo-Discuss] Can we use a LiveDVD for workshops and labs at FOSS4G 2009?

[Christopher Schmidt]

On Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 07:25:01AM +0100, Chris Puttick wrote:
> 
> ----- "Daniel P. Ames" <amesdani at isu.edu> wrote:
> > Hi folks.  As you all know, there is a growing interest in open source
> > for Windows. Especially with Microsoft's release of its developer
> > tools in free "express" editions and the availability of such tools as
> > SharpDevelop and Mono.  
> > 
> > MapWindow is .NET based and the bulk of our developers and users are
> > strictly MS based.  I don't think this makes them any less human, it
> > just says that their threshold for open source is set such that a $90
> > Windows operating system is considered acceptable but a $10000 GIS is
> > not.  
> 
> But to split hairs, if MapWindow is .NET based it is not entirely open
> source as it is dependent on a closed source platform. 

That's like saying "OpenLayers is not open source when used with Google
Maps" -- OpenLayers (and correspondingly, MapWindow) is (or can be)
still Open Source, regardless of the libraries it depends on. Let's not
play the "My software is more open than your software" game; Stallman is
good enough at that. 

Regards,
-- 
Christopher Schmidt
Web Developer