[ANSI-Smalltalk] Process proposal

[Chris Winemiller]

I read the proposal, and among the "desirable" properties are these:

"* the technology compatibility kit should be available under a 
*GPL-compatible
license*;

* a reference implementation working on at least one implementation of
Smalltalk should be itself available under an OSI-approved, *GPL-compatible
license.*"

The GPL is anathema to many (including myself).  Why is it necessary to 
put a technology compatibility kit or reference implementation under GPL 
at all?  If you want to ensure that commercial Smalltalk providers will 
*not *absorb a reference implementation into their products, GPL is the 
quickest way to do it.

Chris

Paolo Bonzini wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have written a draft of how our own open process might work.  It is 
> called STEP and, as the name may suggest, it is roughly based on the 
> Python process (PEP).  I mailed it to Bruce privately and he suggested 
> to make it public.
>
> The main changes from PEP are the following:
>
> 1) the concepts of a reference implementation, expert group and 
> maintenance are inspired from JCP (of course the RI is different due 
> to Smalltalk-specific issues);
>
> 2) the editors are fixed in PEP, while I made them a voluntary position;
>
> 3) the states are a little different (with some inspiration from 
> Bugzilla...), both to reflect the voluntary nature of being a STEP 
> editor, and in some cases because I thought this way is better;
>
> 4) the process includes the forwarding of the open specification to 
> the ANSI committee;
>
> 5) some parts (notably "Successful discussion of a STEP") are mutuated 
> from Wikipedia policies and essays instead.
>
> If there is consensus for at least the basic structure of the 
> proposal, I will put it on the GNU Smalltalk wiki so that it can be 
> edited by anyone.  The STEPs themselves could be hosted there (there 
> are some modules, in the CMS I am using, that would help the management).
>
> Citing the document itself, "we try to build consensus around a STEP, 
> but if that is not possible, you can always submit a competing STEP."
>
> Cheers,
>
> Paolo
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-- 
Chris Winemiller

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