There is a way to prove what Darl McBride says is false. It involves a proof by contradiction used in mathematics: a) suppose a statement is false, b) show that this supposition leads logically to a contradiction, c) since what we assumed is false, the original statement is therefore true.
SCO does not want to indicate the source code in dispute. So we only have the kernel's code with which to begin. We start with the following statement: There is not code on the Linux kernel to which SCO can lay any claim.
A) Suppose the statement is false. Suppose there is code to which SCO can lay any claim. B) Here is where the foot work starts. ALL present day source code from the kernel must be traced back to its original author, just like the slides at the meeting were traced back. Note: some authors, though proud of their work, may want to be identified only by their nicknames. C) Having proved that all code comes from GPL'ed sources, our assumption that the statement is false does not hold, thus the initial statement is true.
Considering the number of lines of code in the kernel, this could require considerable amount of tedious work and LOTS of supporting documentation. But I belive it will prove once and for all, at least to the open minded people, the falsehoods of McBride's utterances.
Learn about Linux
Download Linux
Get Linux help
Reductio ad absurdum.
Posted by: CKMax on September 11, 2003 11:44 AMSCO does not want to indicate the source code in dispute. So we only have the kernel's code with which to begin. We start with the following statement: There is not code on the Linux kernel to which SCO can lay any claim.
A) Suppose the statement is false. Suppose there is code to which SCO can lay any claim.
B) Here is where the foot work starts. ALL present day source code from the kernel must be traced back to its original author, just like the slides at the meeting were traced back. Note: some authors, though proud of their work, may want to be identified only by their nicknames.
C) Having proved that all code comes from GPL'ed sources, our assumption that the statement is false does not hold, thus the initial statement is true.
Considering the number of lines of code in the kernel, this could require considerable amount of tedious work and LOTS of supporting documentation. But I belive it will prove once and for all, at least to the open minded people, the falsehoods of McBride's utterances.
My small contribution.
Thank you.
#