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Cyhist Dec 6, 1998 J
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========================================================================= Date: Sun, 6 Dec 1998 09:13:23 -0600
Reply-To: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> Sender: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> From: Jim Babcock <babcock@UTS.CC.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Free software
In-Reply-To: <CMM.0.90.2.912797296.lpress@zephyr.isi.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0
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Community Memory: Discussion List on the History of Cyberspace ______________________________________________________________________
>______________________________________________________________________
>Community Memory: Discussion List on the History of Cyberspace ______________________________________________________________________
>
>
>>The notion that "software should be free," was a given among the first, self-named "hackers" at MIT in the late 1950s. Thereafter I would expect
>
>In those days user groups like SHARE also distributed software for free and IBM bundled it in with their machines. IBM distinguished between supported and not-supported (actually I think there were 3 levels -- IBM top-level, IBM lower level, and user contributed??), but it came with your machine. The top level stuff was like operating systems and compilers but lower status program libraries were also maintained in IBM branch offices. There was a lot of software in them -- scientific subroutines, report generators, sorts, applications, etc. etc. Lots of file cabinets with decks of cards.
>
>Lar
=======================
I am surprised this thread has not emphasized the fact of "free" SW from the User Groups of the 50's-70's.... I was Pres of SHARE (IBM Users Group) in 1965... SHARE members had established a 'SIGNIFICANT' SW distribution scheme (called SHARE Secretary Distribution or SSD). Entire systems, subroutines, and algorithms were continously distributed to all SHARE members on a monthly basis. The ones with most 'impact' were OS's, for those of us seeking ways to improve our Operations efficiencies...The "famous" (or should I say 'infamous') Fortran II OS was distributed for free cica 1957-9... and many others after that. FTN II-OS was developed at a User's shop (NOT in IBM) .. then IBM 'took' it over and began to improve it... Voila! FTN IV-OS appeared ~1960, (took more memory etc), and we all moaned!... :-)
I will aver that this massive free SW distribution from the mid 50's to (even) now; greatly dwarfs the Gnu EMACS, the TeX, and the-like systems.. in terms of volume of SW code. And, it affected the largest population of individual users even thru today...
Of course, IBM does NOT deliver OS systems free today... they found this untapped revenue source a few years back (in the late 70's). Even earlier, they began charging for their APP systems.. (so-called 'unbundling').
Cheers, Jim Babcock
______________________________________________________________________
Reply-To: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> Sender: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> From: Jim Babcock <babcock@UTS.CC.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Free software
In-Reply-To: <CMM.0.90.2.912797296.lpress@zephyr.isi.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
______________________________________________________________________
Community Memory: Discussion List on the History of Cyberspace ______________________________________________________________________
>______________________________________________________________________
>Community Memory: Discussion List on the History of Cyberspace ______________________________________________________________________
>
>
>>The notion that "software should be free," was a given among the first, self-named "hackers" at MIT in the late 1950s. Thereafter I would expect
>
>In those days user groups like SHARE also distributed software for free and IBM bundled it in with their machines. IBM distinguished between supported and not-supported (actually I think there were 3 levels -- IBM top-level, IBM lower level, and user contributed??), but it came with your machine. The top level stuff was like operating systems and compilers but lower status program libraries were also maintained in IBM branch offices. There was a lot of software in them -- scientific subroutines, report generators, sorts, applications, etc. etc. Lots of file cabinets with decks of cards.
>
>Lar
=======================
I am surprised this thread has not emphasized the fact of "free" SW from the User Groups of the 50's-70's.... I was Pres of SHARE (IBM Users Group) in 1965... SHARE members had established a 'SIGNIFICANT' SW distribution scheme (called SHARE Secretary Distribution or SSD). Entire systems, subroutines, and algorithms were continously distributed to all SHARE members on a monthly basis. The ones with most 'impact' were OS's, for those of us seeking ways to improve our Operations efficiencies...The "famous" (or should I say 'infamous') Fortran II OS was distributed for free cica 1957-9... and many others after that. FTN II-OS was developed at a User's shop (NOT in IBM) .. then IBM 'took' it over and began to improve it... Voila! FTN IV-OS appeared ~1960, (took more memory etc), and we all moaned!... :-)
I will aver that this massive free SW distribution from the mid 50's to (even) now; greatly dwarfs the Gnu EMACS, the TeX, and the-like systems.. in terms of volume of SW code. And, it affected the largest population of individual users even thru today...
Of course, IBM does NOT deliver OS systems free today... they found this untapped revenue source a few years back (in the late 70's). Even earlier, they began charging for their APP systems.. (so-called 'unbundling').
Cheers, Jim Babcock
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