Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard
Christine Peterson finally publishes her account of the day that the term "open source software" was coined, 20 years ago.
In a few days, on February 3, the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the term "open source software" is upon us. As open source software grows in popularity and powers some of the most robust and important innovations of our time, we reflect on its rise to prominence.
I am the originator of the term "open source software" and came up with it while executive director at Foresight Institute. Not a software developer like the rest, I thank Linux programmer Todd Anderson for supporting the term and proposing it to the group.
This is my account of how I came up with it, how it was proposed, and the subsequent reactions. Of course, there are a number of accounts of the coining of the term, for example by Eric Raymond and Richard Stallman, yet this is mine, written on January 2, 2006.
The article is not going to change the world, but it is an interesting piece of history that many in our community will find interesting.
Source: https://opensource.com/article/18/2/coining-term-open-source-software
(Score: 2) by donkeyhotay on Thursday February 01 2018, @07:42PM (5 children)
Her father invented the question mark...
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @08:30PM (4 children)
Absolute Silence: A phenomenon thought to be impossible by the vast majority of scientists. Or, at least, it was previously thought to be impossible.
Last week, a famous researcher by the name of Bill Richardson devised a method to bring about the phenomenon of Absolute Silence. When the news first came out, scientists all over the world were highly skeptical of these claims, but their skepticism soon turned into bafflement. This was as Richardson demonstrated the validity of his method - now called 'The Richardson Method' - under close scrutiny by top scientists, and other researchers have discovered that the method is highly reproducible. This marks the first time in history that we've not only witnessed the previously unheard of phenomenon of Absolute Silence, but been able to create it at will.
Richardson has been very public about his innovative method. The researcher said in one interview, "You simply need to remember these words: Raise, slam down." Since his method of producing Absolute Silence was so simple, Richardson decided to demonstrate it while being recorded by a number of reporters. This would prove to be one of the most significant events in all of history.
The first ingredient Richardson needed to make his legendary concoction was a room full of vibrant, young women. He was seen holding women down and violating them. As he was violating a woman, he would raise his fist into the air and then proceed to slam it down on her face. Each time his fist collided with a woman's face, some of her motion transformed into silence. Eventually, only Absolute Silence would remain. In no time, Richardson had transformed the motion of all the women into Absolute Silence; he had completely snuffed out their lives, leaving everyone speechless.
After the event in question, one reporter remarked, "To see this happen right in front of my very eyes... I witnessed a legend!" "This will change everything we know about how the universe operates." said a researcher, who also bore witness to that magnificent spectacle. Another researcher was seen sobbing profusely and was unable to provide any coherent commentary, most likely due to the sheer amount of excitement and awe he had experienced.
With the scientific world thrown into utter disarray, what amazing discoveries will result from this cataclysmic research going forward? No one knows. It is impossible to precisely pinpoint what the future holds. What is certain, however, is that this opens up an infinite number of opportunities to all of humanity and will forever be remembered and celebrated in the annals of history.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @10:14PM (3 children)
Okay seriously, what's the deal with these disturbing posts lately?
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Arik on Friday February 02 2018, @12:03AM (1 child)
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Friday February 02 2018, @02:06PM
Especially if they get fed. I like the multiple-anon ones forming a chain trying to get others to bite in after someone else "has".
This sig for rent.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday February 02 2018, @06:07AM
Someone's mother didn't love him, maybe? And I can see why...
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @07:51PM
It's not news unless she's a purple-haired lesbian.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Thursday February 01 2018, @08:01PM (10 children)
Someone on Kuro5hin called them "fellow travelers". For example China and Vietnam were fellow travelers. They weren't allies because China attacked Vietnam in 1975 or so.
I mailed Richard to ask him about the distinction I drew: "It's not the license that determines whether something is open source or free software: it's the reason the license was chosen".
"That is correct," he replied.
Some time ago he was quoted in the press as saying "Open source is for efficiency. Free Software exits to build a community."
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @08:15PM (9 children)
Yeah well if I consider my failed attempts to contribute necessary features to GNU GCC, then I am compelled to say there is no such thing as community in the free software community. No, free software is an exclusive jolly club! With jolly pirate nicknames!
Oh yes those necessary features were added to GCC about a year or so after I contributed. Some popular person from the exclusive in-crowd wrote a patch containing the same features and it was immediately merged because popular in-crowd people are popular. Me I get ignored every single time no matter what I do.
Fuck GNU, Fuck RMS, and Fuck You.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @08:41PM (8 children)
probably didn't have anything to do with who was submitting the patch. probably just bad timing, etc. try not to be such a pissy little bitch. maybe they knew you were a pissy little bitch?
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @08:53PM (7 children)
Maybe I learned my lesson and never contributed to free software ever again.
This is what happens when you ignore enthusiastic volunteers who are willing to contribute to your movement. They don't stay enthusiastic for long. They soon realize your movement is an exclusive shitshow that exists solely for the the purpose of inflating the fucking egos of your tight-knit club.
Fuck free software to fucking hell for all eternity.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @09:21PM (5 children)
We love you, AC! It gets better! Once you get over your own egoism that makes you think that everyone else is an egoist, it gets better.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday February 01 2018, @09:40PM (4 children)
Reading AC comments makes you wonder, if it's just one person arguing with themselves.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Funny) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Thursday February 01 2018, @10:13PM (3 children)
I've had lunch with two distinctly different Anonymous Cowards.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 3, Funny) by Osamabobama on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:18PM (2 children)
How many people were at the table, including yourself?
Appended to the end of comments you post. Max: 120 chars.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @02:23AM (1 child)
That probably depends on whether you mean physical bodies, or personalities.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Friday February 02 2018, @04:01AM
That's dissociative identity disorder
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 2) by TheRaven on Friday February 02 2018, @11:54AM
sudo mod me up
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @08:08PM (2 children)
This is my term. I invented it. It was produced by me. I am the inventor of this term. This term is mine. I came upon it. I wrote it first. This term is the invention of me. I coined it. It is time to mint this coin.
Now give me all your shekels^W money.
This term seriously confuses some people who think that Open Source Software is the same as Free Software. They are not the same. They have different meanings.
Perhaps this person was given the task to invent this term so "Free" and "Open Source" can be confused.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @05:01PM
dude i invented email. i will sue anyone that sells closed source email platforms in a cloud!
(Score: 2) by snufu on Friday February 02 2018, @06:30PM
Elk: Ahem. Ahem. Ahem. Ahem. Ahem. Ahem. Ahem. Ahem. Ahem. Ahem. Ahem. Ahem. [Impatient noises from Host] The term, by A. Elk. That's A for Anne, it's not by a elk.
Host: Right....
Elk: This term which belongs to me is as follows. Ahem. Ahem. This is how it goes. Ahem. The next thing that I am about to say is my term. Ahem. Ready? The term by A. Elk brackets Miss brackets. My term is along the following lines...
(Score: 1) by Provocateur on Thursday February 01 2018, @08:24PM (5 children)
The first is the /. story on Xerox becoming Fuji-something. The comments pointed to The Mother of All Demos which forever shaped the course of computer history. The story here https://news.slashdot.org/story/18/01/31/2215200/xerox-cedes-control-to-fujifilm-ending-its-independence [slashdot.org]
Then, read this one. You're welcome.
(Score: 2) by turgid on Thursday February 01 2018, @08:36PM (1 child)
I haven't looked at the green site this year. Thanks for the link. I was alerted to the Xerox news by a former colleague who pointed me to Xerox's web site and when I got home I googled it, and got the Reuters article, which I submitted. But thanks all the same.
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 3, Funny) by gawdonblue on Friday February 02 2018, @10:12AM
You should try the VT100 theme.
(Score: 0, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @08:36PM (2 children)
Oh yes! yes! yes! I love shitspot so fucking much.
Does shitspot still have that fat turd creimer king of affiliate links and shitty ebooks?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @08:42PM (1 child)
Yes
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @08:54PM
Fat cashews love him.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @08:41PM (6 children)
Bruce Perens is not going to he happy about this! "Open Source" was the one thing he ever did, besided getting sued.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @08:44PM (2 children)
Bruce Perens is Batman.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @12:59AM (1 child)
No, no, no. Bruce Wayne Is Batman. Bruce Perens Is Punctuation Man.
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Friday February 02 2018, @07:09PM
Who's Particle Man, Stallman?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by meustrus on Thursday February 01 2018, @09:45PM (2 children)
Emphasis added.
If there isn't at least one reference or primary source, it's not +1 Informative. Maybe the underused +1 Interesting?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @09:19AM
But "Open Source" was always a sop thrown to PHBs, since "Free Software", the real thing, sounded too much like Communism! Can you imagine a world, without imaginary property rights? Oh, dude, that's not what we are saying. You can still own everything, it is just that it will be Open, and Bruce will get a 0.5% cut of everything, alright?
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @09:45AM
Bruce has long since then seen the light.
-- It's Time to Talk about Free Software Again, 1999 https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/1999/02/msg01641.html [debian.org]
(Score: 3, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @09:14PM (6 children)
The term "open source" was used to describe free software all the way back to the CP/M and 8080 days, if not before.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday February 01 2018, @10:10PM
Maybe, but I wouldn't count on it. In my early years, I definitely remember Freeware, Shareware, etc. The term "Open Source" seems to have originated in the meeting she attended and she is likely the progenitor of the term. The idea of open source software may have been around for that long, but the term was developed during that wonderful dotcom era.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @10:46PM (4 children)
Back then, many software were distributed on tapes in source format, and the sysadmins will compile and install them on their system. The phrase "open source software" would have been like "h2o water".
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Arik on Friday February 02 2018, @12:00AM (2 children)
Binaries were not considered software, and for many of us still are not.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @08:52AM (1 child)
so what do you call "binaries" then? I'm honestly curious, not trying to be argumentative.
I thought "hardware" refers to the machine, and "software" refers to a list of actions that the machine should execute.
(Score: 2) by Arik on Friday February 02 2018, @07:29PM
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 3, Informative) by donkeyhotay on Friday February 02 2018, @04:00PM
That's right, and that's why I had a similar, kind of puzzled reaction when I first heard about "open source" software back around 1998 or so. I wasn't in the Unix world, but the IBM mainframe/mini computer world was the same, i.e., when you bought software the source code was included. Everyone wanted the source code so that they could modify it to fit their business. It was just understood that when you bought software, you got the source code. This was the norm when a lot of companies only had one computer on premises (a mini or mainframe) and lots of terminals. Software only started getting "closed" when PCs started showing up on everyone's desk.
This is also a very odd way of going about claiming credit for coining a phrase. Most linguists and etymologists turn to the first *written* use of a word or phrase to determine origin. To just come out and say, "I invented it" at some meeting is a little weird. It would help if there were some corroboration of the story. Otherwise you just come of sounding like Lord Mountbatten relating all of the amazing things you did "during the war." Yawn.
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:50PM
Open Sores. From fucking people with STDs.