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no, i havent read the GPL. The first software i released was on CPAN

• for license i just put 'same as perl'. Later, for my sf projects i

chose GPL because it was the first choice on the sf list.

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So is not 'F' the first character of FOSS? And dont you use NRC-FOSS as your signature? If you have not read/understood the GPL then that 'F' does not make any sense to you. Before going any further, let me tell you such behaviour will severely reduce your credibility.

you mean postgresql, apache, subversion, zope, python are all not FOSS?

You got me totally wrong.

PostgresSQL, Apache, Subversion, ZOPE, Python are definitely FOSS. All that I meant was, someone who uses the word FOSS, meaning Free & Open Source Software, in his signature must have read the GNU GPL. One paragraph at least. If you have not and think RMS has lost his relevance then kindly use OSS instead of FOSS. You are gravely misleading people.

Why so?

I think so, because as Devdas corectly pointed out, the concept of Free Software predates the concepts of Open Source Software, and all major proponents of Open Source like Bruce Perens, Eric S. Raymond (ESR) have a high regard for Free Software ideals, the GNU GPL, and RMS. (Ref: Revolution OS).

So what happens to your credibility - you work on python/zope/subversion.

I do not know. But then I am not worried since I do not indulge in RMS bashing, although I tend to use his initials at times in contexts which some people do not approve of. :D (BG?) But then they are free to state their opinion. Moreover neither am I claiming to something absurd as not having read anything written by RMS and everything from ESR.

I am a GNU developer and I have read the GPL, although I might admit that I do not clearly understand the GFDL. I do not I am making any false claims anywhere.

Cheers, Debarshi