[Rd] Non-free packages in CRAN

[Joris Meys]

2011/11/18 Jordi Gutiérrez Hermoso <jordigh at octave.org>:
>
> I don't see how MOSEK is making free software stronger. It's not
> encouraging the usage of more free software. It's encouraging the use
> of MOSEK. MOSEK should not be endorsed by an organisation that is
> supposed to promote free software.
>
> If these really are your views and they're representative of the R
> project, then the solution seems to be to make R stop calling itself
> part of the GNU project. I hope it doesn't do this.
>
> - Jordi G. H.
>
I'm not going into the discussion about which license represents what.
I hate politics and ideological discussions because of all the blabla.
I'm a statistician. I work with facts.

Fact : Simon is not the R-project, the R-core or the R community. He's
one guy, and a pretty smart one that is.
Fact : At my department several people use R only because they have
access to non-GPL programs through R: because they can load Excel and
SPSS files if they have to, connect to SQLServer and Access, ...
Fact : They often don't use Octave for exactly the same reason: They
don't have access to the tools they need. They're using Matlab
instead. We do have SPlus on the servers too. Guess how many people
are using that...
Fact : I get paid for statistical advice. I pay for a hammer. I pay
for a bike. If I have to pay for a tool I need on my computer, I pay
for it. If there's a free alternative that can get me as far, I use
that one and support their community with a gift if I care enough
about the tool. Which reminds me...
Fact : If I see too many quasi-religious statements, tool goes out and
I leave the building.

You're not doing your cause a favor here.

Cheers
Joris

Being religious about free software never helped the cause. And by
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-- 
Joris Meys
Statistical consultant

Ghent University
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
Department of Mathematical Modelling, Statistics and Bio-Informatics

tel : +32 9 264 59 87
Joris.Meys at Ugent.be
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