RussianVodka
March 15th, 2007, 05:10 AM
Yeah, so we're writing a 5 page research paper, and I picked open source as my topic. I have the sources for most of the things I was gona write about, but something that I can't find is credible information about is the GPL.
I already know what I'm gona say about it, I just need some articles to back me up. It can't be Wikipedia, and it preferably has to be from a peer reviewed publication.
So if any of you know some good sources, could you please post them?
Things I plan to say in this part of my paper:
- Open Source software is not the same as "Free" software.
- How Open Source is enforced (from what I understand, there is a part of the GPL which states that if you add open source code to your program, any related code must also be published as open source).
- The distribution of Open Source software under the GPL. Things like ability to sell, modify, etc.
- How different companies use the GPL. I wan't to make a point about Trolltech, where they release a virtually identical product (QT) twice, once under the GPL, and once under a proprietary license. And the only difference is that if you use the GPL one, you agree that everything made with that product will also be licensed under the GPL.
-Arguments for and against the GPL.
- Comparison between GPL and other open source lisences, like the one used by Free BSD.
If anyone knows some good sources for this, I will be very appreciative.
Also, the assignment says that I need to use credible peer reviewd sources for my paper. But I was wondering if it would generally be considered OK to take information from the official website of what ever I'm writing about. Like with the GPL, would I be able to cite things stated in the FAQ part of www.gnu.org? I would ask the professor, but the draft is due this Friday, which is also the next time I see her.
I already know what I'm gona say about it, I just need some articles to back me up. It can't be Wikipedia, and it preferably has to be from a peer reviewed publication.
So if any of you know some good sources, could you please post them?
Things I plan to say in this part of my paper:
- Open Source software is not the same as "Free" software.
- How Open Source is enforced (from what I understand, there is a part of the GPL which states that if you add open source code to your program, any related code must also be published as open source).
- The distribution of Open Source software under the GPL. Things like ability to sell, modify, etc.
- How different companies use the GPL. I wan't to make a point about Trolltech, where they release a virtually identical product (QT) twice, once under the GPL, and once under a proprietary license. And the only difference is that if you use the GPL one, you agree that everything made with that product will also be licensed under the GPL.
-Arguments for and against the GPL.
- Comparison between GPL and other open source lisences, like the one used by Free BSD.
If anyone knows some good sources for this, I will be very appreciative.
Also, the assignment says that I need to use credible peer reviewd sources for my paper. But I was wondering if it would generally be considered OK to take information from the official website of what ever I'm writing about. Like with the GPL, would I be able to cite things stated in the FAQ part of www.gnu.org? I would ask the professor, but the draft is due this Friday, which is also the next time I see her.