================================================================== I want to understand whether I have communicated some points in a clear way, and to check how much you already know about the free software culture and way of working. From the questions I receive I get the firm impression that some students are more ``in the game'' than they declare -- and I'm happy about this, of course; anyhow I'd like to plan the next lessons so that they are at the right level. The last questions about licenses are exam-like (but harder than typical questions). Please try to give the answer you think is most reasonable to EVERY question. This questionnaire is ANONYMOUS. ================================================================== When people cooperate in writing a Free Sofware or Open Source project how do they typically communicate, in your opinion? [ ] They use CVS [ ] They use Internet online chat systems, like IRC [ ] They use Internet mailing lists [ ] They use the telephone [ ] They organize (physical) meetings [ ] There is no need for communication: anybody is free to add a piece of code, without asking permission to anybody; then the code is always distributed in the *next* official release of the software. [ ] There is no need for communication: anybody is free to add a piece of code, without asking permission to anybody; then a new version of the software is *immediately* released. Which of the following countries does produce most free/open source software, in your opinion? [ ] The United States of America [ ] The United Kingdom [ ] India [ ] Japan [ ] France [ ] Germany [ ] Russia Linux is: [ ] a monolithic kernel [ ] a microkernel [ ] a single-server kernel built on a microkernel [ ] a set of servers built on a microkernel Think of a simple GNU utility line `ls' or `cat'. Do you think it would it be possible to make it run on a non-GNU system? [ ] Yes, but it would need many modifications [ ] Yes, it would run on practically any system with just some small modifications in the worst case [ ] Yes, on any operating system, but in practice only with Intel or AMD processors; it would be very difficult to port it to different hardware. [ ] Theorethically yes, but it would be a violation of the GPL to make it run on a different system [ ] Yes, but only if compiled with GCC [ ] No, it would have to be completely rewritten You have released a software written by you, with *no external dependencies* on other software, under the GNU GPL. Can you re-release it later under a different license? [ ] Yes. [ ] No, the GPL forbids it. You have written a software which depends on some other software released under the X11 license by someone else. Which licenses can you choose for if you want that other people can link it with ? [ ] I can choose any license, even proprietary [ ] The GNU GPL [ ] The X11 license Some software depends on some other software released under the GNU GPL by someone else. Which is the license of the *combined* work + ? [ ] The same license of [ ] The GNU GPL [ ] The X11 license [ ] The GNU GPL, if the license of allows it; otherwise it's against the law to link with [ ] Linking and is forbidden by the law [NOTE THAT I'VE *CHANGED* THE LAST PART OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTION, TO CORRECT A MISTAKE OF MINE. SORRY. THE ORIGINAL VERSION WAS NOT VERY INTERESTING AND POSSIBLY CONFUSING FOR STUDENTS. PLEASE ASK ME IF YOU WANT TO KNOW DETAILS AND THE CORRECT ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL VERSION.] An 'obfuscator' is a program which takes as input the source code of another program and modifies it so that it becomes hard to read, for example removing comments and changing the name of all variables into strings like 'toto1', 'toto2', 'toto3' and so on. Can you release only the *obfuscated* modified version of a GPL program written by someone else which you have modified, and keep the non-obfuscated modified source only for you? [ ] Yes. [ ] No. Why? (this is easy if you have read the GPL text) ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Can you ask money in exchange for a copy of a program released under the GNU GPL? [ ] Yes. [ ] No. If you modify some free software (take the usual definition by Stallman), are you *forced* to publish your modifications? [ ] Yes. [ ] No. Make an example of some software which does *not* need a license: ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Any comments or suggestions you think are useful to make thus course better (except for me to learn to speak a decent French; I'm already working on it :-)): ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________