2nd Annual Free Software Foundation Awards
from the live-from-new-york dept.
The awards were given out in conjunction with theBazar, a gathering of Open Source experts, boosters, and devotees featuring a number of tutorials on assorted Open Source and GNU/Linux-related topics.
Last year's Award for the Advancement of Free Software went to PERL-meister Larry Wall. This year the three finalists were Donald Knuth, John Gilmore, and Miguel de Icaza.
And the winner was (drum roll please) Miguel de Icaza!
Miguel lent the proceedings a moment of extra drama by arriving - literally - at the second his name was announced, right after RMS said he was not there and could not, therefore, be expected to make a speech. But there he was, and the speech was both brief and charming.
A surprise award was also given to Blockstackers, which has donated a significant amount of money to the Free Software Foundation. This award was accepted by a shocked - and literally blushing - Rob Malda.
We join the Free Software Foundation in congratulating Miguel de Icaza.
See pictures of the award ceromony and participants here.
Re:Pictures? (Score:3)
Anyhow, until the Bazaar pics are up, you can still waste your time looking at the fun pics from the
Why not Knuth? (Score:3)
TeX on the other hand, has been around for a long time and is used non-stop in the lab where I work. Without it, the reports we dump out would probably take forever to make. I can't imagine using Word (or any word processor for that matter) to create documents that change as much in revision as ours do. TeX is a much more earth-shattering development than a spiffy new interface to X.
I think the FSF awards copped out and picked based on ``current and trendy'' instead of deserving of an award. Of course, if there is a monetary award involved (since there's no article, I can't tell, but I imagine there is), then I can see the politics behind it. Gnome sure needs cash more than any TeX-related project.
Congrats to the nominees and the winner.
-Chris
What? (Score:4)
So I hope that Knuth gets what he deserves next time. (It wouldn't hurt to give him a couple of VA shares either.)
Miguel Deserved (Score:4)
Media (Score:3)
or http://kurt.andover.net/bazaar/fsf [andover.net], but note they won't be up for another hour or so.
Also, ZDTV will be broadcasting the awards here: http://www.zdtv.com/radio [zdtv.com] on Thursday, Dec 16 2:00pm http://www.zdtv.com/radio
Re:Pictures? (Score:4)
Yes, I know putting them under the comdex dir is asking for trouble... but at least they are there
pax, Bishop
Re:What? (Score:4)
I say we don't give that Knuth a damn thing until he finishes vols 4 & 5 of The Art of Programming
Re:What? (Score:3)
Though I agree, it does seem weird to pass over Knuth in favor of Miguel. (No offense, Miguel, you and your contributions to GNOME and free software rock. :)
----------
Re:Is this supposed to encourage free software? (Score:4)
Re:What? (Score:3)
> of excellence in computer science.
So let him continue to win Computer Science awards - this award was for the advancement of free software.
Re:What? (Score:3)
I'd have to disagree. There's being a programmer, author, and teacher, who just happens to like to give away his code as examples as part of his teaching. I'd note that though he has a lot of excellent algorithms and utilities, and a very keen mathematical and "computer science" mind, his work is far more designed for true computer science-level programmers. That is not the majority of programmers, mind you; many will just use libraries that are built based on his code or algorithms, and probably not even know that's what they've got. [I'd be fascinated to learn just how much of the C++ STL classes and algorithms are based on his work.]
The task of designing a desktop, building on the experiences, both good and bad, of existing (and long dead) systems, managing a GREAT number of code contributors (in the bigger picture, more than the linux kernel), acknowledging the GPL to the point of letting multiple developers work on different applications that do the same thing (how many mail clients do we need, guys), with the understanding that the best will come to the fore, but the lesser will remain compatible and functional (lets see MS Windows try THAT one...), all the while developing his own contributions (core at that), addressing incoming contributions to the core, combining multiple technologies that weren't originally intended to work together (Corba, X, etc...), being a spokesperson for the effort, and finally giving up his day job to do it all...
Knuth was always a teacher and scientist. His work is greatly respected (and used) by scientists, engineers, developers, etc...this is good, and he has been acknowledged for it.
Miguel is leading an effort to develop an entire system not to be used by developers, but by ANYBODY. It will, in the end, be a MUCH more exposed project. Knuth has respect and honor in the scientific community; Miguel will be on his way to earning respect and honor in the entire linux-using world at large (well, those who don't use KDE, anyways...). Starting that public recognition among developers and open source enthusiasts is very critical to the success of the idea the Free Software is for (or should be made for) EVERYBODY, not just developers.
Yes, perhaps, it is political and timely. It is also necessary.
The award: Better than a damn gold statuette (Score:4)
Very colorful. Oscars just gather dust on shelves. This thing can hang on the wall. Very nice. Wish I had one.
OK, Knuth deserves one, sure, but he's not dead yet, and there will be awards like this in the future. Knuth may be VERY deserving of one, but it's hard to say that Icaza isn't deserving as well.
Correct URL for photos (Score:4)
-
<SIG>
"I am not trying to prove that I am right... I am only trying to find out whether." -Bertolt Brecht
It is "For the Advancement of Free Software" (Score:4)
I think this why Knuth didn't win. TeX is an integral part of the GNU system but isn't as important as GNOME. As far as all of Knuth's other accomplichments, well, I don't think the award is about that.
I personally feel that Knuth should have gotten the award but I can understand why Miguel got it. Just look at everything he has done with GNOME:
So it makes sense really. But still, developing TeX and making it free... a difficult thing to compete with.
Congratulations to Miguel and the finalists... and thanks.
(I sincerely hope there is no political hocus-pocus going on... I don't think so but...)
Some answers (Score:4)
There were probably about 125 people in the audience by my estimation.
RMS explained why they eliminated Knuth from the 3 finalists by basically saying that he was in a whole other league and has already won just about every award out there and there wouldn't be any point in adding yet another award to the long list. He is already recognized.
-Rasmus
Felicidades Miguel !! (Score:3)
wins this award, specially since his effort
to make linux more friendly, will help our
schools, which belive me, need LOTS of help.
Education in Mexico doesnt have a big
budget, and the best public schools at the most
have a couple of old pentiums. My mom was a
teacher in one of the top 3 public schools in my city,
Mexicos seconds largest and richest, and they only
have 20 or so old pentiums.
A lot of companies are donating old equipment
to the schools and only linux and gnome will make
this equipment useful and worth using.
Not only does he deserve the award for technical
merit, but also for his social awareness; well,
at least for what he has done in Mexico
Again, congrats Miguel!
Re:Of course Miguel won (Score:4)
I have been following the GNOME project since Miguel was writing the predecessor to Gnumeric in Scheme. (Yes, Scheme.) During this time, I have never seen him bash anyone or anything. He even gives credit to Microsoft, for cryin' out loud (for good GUI design in Word and Excel, in case you're curious). The only criticisms I have seen him make are of 1) Microsoft's business practices and 2) the old Qt license. These were reasoned criticisms that actually explained how consumers were hurt and focuesd on positive solutions. There was never anything approaching "bashing". Miguel is always one to say "I believe" or "many people prefer" or "there are concerns about". He almost never explicitly says "This is bad."
Since the new Qt license, I haven't seem Miguel say a bad word about KDE. His only comments are ones of encouragement and praise for the virtues of "competition". By the way, did you know he uses FreeBSD as well as Linux? Now he tests his software on his own box, running FreeBSD. So he's not bashing anyone in that camp, either.
Despite the divisive flames of people like you, the actual KDE and GNOME developers are working closer than ever before. Window managers like E support them both. The only thing lacking is a common object model, and programmers from both sides are working on the idea.
Stop trying to sabotage the free software movement. Stop slandering Miguel.
Vovida, OS VoIP
Beer recipe: free! #Source
Cold pints: $2 #Product
Knuth should not have been shortlisted (Score:3)