I think everyone needs to take a breath and remember that one of the chief principles of open source is freedom of choice. And that means that some of us might choose to support a company like Novell that is working to ensure that Linux users have a path towards interoperability with Microsoft formats. As an avid Linux user and supporter for over seven years, I’m no fan of Microsoft’s business practices. But I truly believe there needs to be a framework for cooperation in a computing world where Microsoft, for good or for ill, wrote all the standards. And just when you think things are opening up, companies like Netflix adopt Silverlight. (And even if they were using Flash, it is only by Adobe’s goodwill that Linux has a functioning plugin.) My point is that as a Linux user, I am TIRED TO DEATH of the free software GNU/Linux fundamentalists preaching purist doctrine. Back in the real-world, Linux is still only 1% of the computing world and the MAJORITY of us are not ready to bury out heads in the sand and ignore anything that doesn’t meet the RMS free software standard. Guys, you need to know when to accept some compromises. And when you present inaccuracies and WILD exaggerations (digital colonialism?! WTF?!) to support your position, the rants start to sound like those of the religious right in America. Fundamentalism in any form will rot any movement from the inside out simply because the only people you want to listen to are yourselves.

On a sidenote, I LOATHE software patents like any other rational open source fan. Whether or not Mono apps like Banshee go into Ubuntu will have ZERO effect on their existence, however. If you hate software patents (as I do), email your ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE!!! Get your friends and family to do the same! The issue is URGENT and IMPORTANT to the future of open computing, but it is our framework for thinking and talking about intellectual “property” that keeps us from changing things, not the big bad Microsoft or Novell. Microsoft defends itself from just as many patent lawsuits as it initiates. Hope this sparks some constructive dialog.

Peace.
–Akshun J

The agreement gives “protection” to Novell from being sued by Microsoft and Novell only. Mono is “gratis” but open only to Novell for the patent agreement Microsoft and Novell boast about.

Is denouncing the fact a dishonor to the Linux community? NOT AT ALL! but to recognized and support an open enemy of the community to saw mined fields among us and to boast that we showed up to this and that Linux Conference. Maybe they showed up as infiltrated paid agents that Microsoft always send on its fight against freedom.

The fact that Novell signed and agreement with Microsoft is the reason that Novell employees pushed mono to other distributions. Time will come when Microsoft will stand up to claim it’s right to those crappy technologies that will give Microsoft the perfect weapon to destroy us. And Novell happily ever after ’cause they’re the one who have “protection”. Big mouthed people only resort to personal attack when they have no valid points to support their points.

You might attack this site, demonize whoever opposes Microsoft/Novell evil doings but the truth can’t be hidden for too long.
People all over the world are aware of it and the peoples demand freedom not digital colonialism.

So Roy’s trying to mislead his mono-hating fans on purpose – as usual. Well, whatever floats your boat, Roy-boy – just remind me to slap you for dishonoring the Linux community if you ever cross my way on a conference.

That’s disingenuous.

1. Tomboy is NOT a Novell-sponsored project

Sandy Armstrong, while a Novell employee, does not get paid by Novell to hack on it afaict. As a recent post of yours pointed out, his job at Novell is doing a11y for Mono.

He also only recently even became a Novell employee (you blogged about that too a year or so ago). The reason I mention this is that obviously this means that Sandy Armstrong has been maintaining Tomboy since long before he ever joined Novell.

Novell also did not start the Tomboy project. If you read up on the history of Tomboy, it was started by a GNOME developer named Alex Gravely who has never worked for Novell afaict.

So, given this “enlightening” information, why should Novell care at all about GNote? They don’t seem to care enough one way or the other about note-taking apps, so why should they all of a sudden be sponsoring GNote?

2. Snowy is also not a Novell project – had you bothered to read the Ars Technica article you refer to in this very article, you would have noticed that the developers are working on Snowy “in their spare time” (btw, you even quoted the relevant paragraph).

Do you just not fully grasp the english language? Or are you purposely spreading misinformation to rile up your mindless drone army so that they go out to various other forums to repeat your lies as a means of hurting these fine developers’ reputations?

You seriously need to learn to do research before you go off spreading this misinformation.