The Age Of Pragmatists

Pondering the "big questions" is all well and good, but it matters little if words are the only results. To have an effect, the ideas need to be translated into action and Free software did that in a big way. While GNU Hurd may not have gotten very far, the Linux kernel certainly did as did thousands of other Free software projects big and small.

These efforts were by and large led by pragmatic individuals who were drawn to the idea(ls) of Free software but who had a focus on producing working technology. Thanks to their committed efforts, Free software has become a global force both in terms of technology and the size of the industry based around these efforts. Whether we look at Apple's successful rejuvenation by taking Free software and crafting OS X from it, Google with both its search empire and Android mobile OS, IBM's backing of Linux or Red Hat's successful climb to 1 billion in annual revenue, it is undeniable that Free software's ideals have translated quite clearly into tangible results.

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