Re: [PATCH] Remove Bitkeeper documentation from Linux tree

Jeff Garzik
2002-04-22T17:41:04Z

On Sun, Apr 21, 2002 at 07:27:37PM +0200, Daniel Phillips wrote:
> 1) It would be equally as useful as a URL

Maybe 5% less useful or so. There are reasons we move other
(non-controversial) docs into the kernel source. 100% of these docs can
be URLs.

> 2) It would not consume download bandwidth

This is a silly argument that dean gaudet dismembered. It's 12K
compressed and not your main argument at all.

> 3) It would show some sensitivity to the concerns of those who are
> uncomfortable with the license.

I agree.

So, I believe points #1 and #2 are silly, and #3 is your core argument.

And I agree that it would show sensitivity towards those people who
dislike the BK license.

That said, I still think removing the doc is a hideously wrong thing
to do. I see the action of BK doc removal as encouraging some strict
notion of what we can and cannot discuss, inside the kernel sources.
_That_ is the free speech aspect.

I see enforcing a strict notion of acceptable speech in the kernel
sources as a very bad thing for the Linux project.

I'm not asking you to agree -- but do you even understand my viewpoint here?

> > There is no dispute that the doc is useful, only dispute with certain
> > beliefs. Disagreement is fine... encouraged, even. But that's a
> > poor justification to remove the doc from the tree.
> >
> > I hear your point, I really do. I just feel very strongly that
> > removing the BK docs from the tree is the worst way to go about
> > supporting this point of view.
>
> I really don't see how changing out the files for a url qualifies as
> the "worst way" of addressing the issue. If Larry unretracts his offer
> to host the files - and I fully expect he will do that after some period
> of indulging in his wounded bird act - then by definition the documentation
> will always be available exactly when and where needed. Is there *anybody*
> here who'd have further license-related complaints about Bitkeeper if that
> were done? (Speak or forever hold your peace.)

First, I can host the doc. And will, if there is justification.
I do not see a justification. Larry is irrelevant.

Second, I guarantee that license-related complaints about BitKeeper will
continue to exist, regardless of the doc's location. Moving the doc
does absolutely nothing to assauge bad feelings about the BK license.

Jeff