[luau] OS X - Really a Unix that will let me run Mac?

[cpaul at telemetrybox.org]

On Fri, Apr 05, 2002 at 09:30:21AM -1000, Rod Gammon wrote:
> I've been seduced by the new power books, although the price is a big zit on
> its nose...

I am saving my pennies for a 600Mhz iBook (12.1" TFT) - I looked at the Powerbook G4s and I decided that I didn't need that kind of notebook.  In my opinion, the 12.1" iBook 600Mhz is the best laptop ever made; sturdy, compact and powerful.


> Is this thing really the grail? A Mac desktop that can run postgres, allow
> server testing, and so on?  According to a recent Linux Journal review, it
> is.

I have run MacOSX for the past year and I have been satisfied.


> Does anyone know:
> 
> 1. What are big differences between Apple Public Source License and GPL?
> 
> APSL: http://www.opensource.apple.com/

The Free Software Foundation does not consider the APSL a Free Software license.  Nor is the APSL considered "Free" as defined by the DFSG, the guidelines used to define "Open Source" licenses by OpenSource.Org.   

In the rush to capitalize on the publicity however, Eric Raymond bulldozed the APSL through the OpenSource commitee; so technically the APSL IS "Open Source", although it is NOT "Free." 

The APSL is only one clause away from being a Free, GPL-Compatible license.  In the current version of the APSL, developers are required to publically release any modifications to APSL-covered code.  This makes it illegal for me to modify (for example) Darwin Streaming Server and privately share it with my friend.  

I have a feeling however  that the lawyers at Apple will come to their senses and remove the offending clause.


> 
> 2. To what extent are Darwin/OSX and, say, Red Hat Linux (substitute
> favorite) compatible?  If I have a shell script, will it work in OS/X?  Is
> porting required for source packages?  Would Kylix, Tomcat, or Postgres
> work?

Darwin/OSX can run Bash, Perl, Python, Ruby, PHP, Apache, Java, Tomcat, Postgres or any other Unix/Posix application.  Darwin is a BSD-ish Unix operating system.  IMHO, Darwin is a much better OS than Redhat.

I currently use "Fink" as my Darwin package manager.  It combines the ease of Debian's Apt with the power of FreeBSD Ports.  

Good luck,
Charles