[ProgSoc] ProgSoc Reloaded

Roland Turner roland at rolandturner.com
Wed Aug 9 16:09:47 AEST 2017


On 06/08/17 09:48, John Elliot V wrote:

> "To develop useful, new and non-commercial computer programs to be
> exported to other installations for non-profit purposes."
>
> I'm sure ProgSoc is still free to develop "useless" software, for instance.
>
> But the whole thing is rather idiotic. Where is Raz when you need him?

Catching up, although I imagine that DMARC goodness will mean that my 
reply won't reach you via the list (who is maintaining the list software 
at present?).

Developing software that is not all of useful, new, and non-commercial 
is not prohibited by the constitution, it simply isn't what was being 
pursued. I'd point that this text was written almost a decade prior to 
both DFSG and OSD. Either of those (or even FSF's four essential 
freedoms) would be a reasonable starting point now, although 
constitutional lawyering does not seem to be of primary importance at 
this moment.

I suspect that the thinking in including the creation of new software 
was about establishing reputation for ProgSoc. Granted, we've not done 
much this yet but, hey, we're only 28 years (and 2-3 "deaths") in.

+1 on the idea that there needs to be "society", for which pubs serve 
well (as might the uni bar...). I'd encourage those who are in a 
position to do so to resume weekly gatherings and explore what's 
possible (who' interested in doing what).

A room is important, but that discussion can't start without an active 
society.

- Raz



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