“Most open source projects compete with one another. For
example, GNOME competes with KDE for our linux/unix mindshare for
the desktop. Also, looking on freshmeat.net you can find various
projects that compete directly with one another. Do a search for
IRC clients or mp3 players. There are hundreds of more examples. If
Linux was a communist operating system, there should be only one
program of each type and you should not be interested in writing
competing programs, since in that mind frame, it would be
counterproductive. Linux is a capitalistic Operating System,
serving capitalistic consumers. Us.”
“Okay, you say, “so what?” Well, since competition is key to
linux success, even without its goal of monetary satisfaction, (and
some could say that examples such as RedHat and VA Linux and
others, show that money is very much part of the open source/Linux
movement) Linux needs things to compete with. Big things. Because
how do you achieve greatness without knowing what greatness is?
Microsoft is our ‘Evil Empire.’ They help us set the standard for
us to reach. To destroy. To beat. To win.”
“But if we win, if Microsoft loses, who will we have to
compete with? What lofty standard will the masses fight
against? Will Linux become the enemy? I think it is unlikely that
Mircosoft will become so weak that in the near future we will lose
our ‘idol of drive.’ However, I say, hold off saying that the
destruction of Microsoft is in our interests.”