Message-Id: <3.0.2.16.19970824231304.1f2f866c@pop3.ziplink.net>
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 1997 23:13:04 -0400
To: caldera-opendos AT caldera DOT com
From: wfp <wfp AT ziplink DOT net>
Subject: Re: Latest OpenDOS information
Cc: opendos AT delorie DOT com
In-Reply-To: <19970824100327.21807@trident.caldera.com>
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At 10:03 97-08-24 -0600, Erik Ratcliffe wrote:
>On Thu, Aug 21, 1997 at 01:29:27PM -0400, wfp wrote:
>> >+++ We have no current plans to release more source code. OpenDOS is the
>> only commercial DOS with kernel source code openly available. If we were to
>> stop selling it or developing it then this could happen...
>> 
>> Sure would have been nice if you folks had been more upfront about this
>> months ago, instead of stringing us along all this time. 
>> 
>> Or is this a recent change in policy, and if so, why??
>
>As I said to Kenneth, the complete source code to the operating system HAS
>been released.  You're getting applications and utilities totally confused
>with operating systems.  The operating system does not include editors,
>graphic shells, NetWars, etc.  It contains...  well, and operating system.
>

This is simply not true. The original announcements clearly indicated that
the utilities and drivers code would indeed be released, not just the
kernel. Certainly a great deal of discussion on the mailing lists has gone
on which has assumed that this code would be released as well. No one from
Caldera has ever contradicted that, officially or unofficially, until this
very moment. 

Furthermore, it is completely disingenuous of you to claim that the
utilities aren't part of the OS. I would grant that SOME of the programs
included in the binary distribution MIGHT under some circumstances be
considered not vital parts of the OS, but most of them clearly are.

>WordPerfect runs on DOS, but that doesn't make it part of DOS.  It's just an
>application.  There's where the difference lies.  OpenDOS the operating
>system is available in source code form.  That's what was promised, that's
>what we delivered.

This is a spurious argument (see above). If Caldera has changed its policy,
and if your earlier words can be taken at face value, it has, then you
should bloody well admit it, and at the very least apologize for stringing
us along all these months!

I now have a very bad taste in my mouth where Caldera is concerned. And,
believe me, I will let people know this. 

I suppose I'm easily conned by organizations that appear to be "different"
from the run-of-the-mill American corporations like Microsoft. Obviously,
as soon as you guys got a few bucks in your pockets you changed your tune.
Well, I'm really sick and tired of the bullshit, and I suspect, and
sincerely hope,  I won't be such an easy mark next time.


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