Grok32` promises to unleash technical computing from proprietary software and thereby advance both natural language modeling, and technical computing. Historically, mathematical and symbolic systems evolve through advances in representation that favor freedom, generality, simplicity, utility, ease, and elegance. Grok32` is such an advance. See advertisement.
Why is Grok32` free software?
"It is often argued that industrial deception is a uniquely self-rectifying problem, in that an engineering firm with rotten patents will get a reputation of shoddiness and unreliability and will eventually suffer in the marketplace. But this rottenness can take an extremely long time to reveal itself, while secrecy, accumulated mistakes, and economically motivated disinformation slowly clog the pipeline of innovation. In this sense, ownership—more accurately the secrecy it necessitates—is not the engine of progress, but its enemy. One cannot both expose knowledge to scrutiny and keep it for oneself to sell. It has to be one or the other."
[Robert B. Laughlin, Physics Today, volume 55, issue 12, page 10 — Reference ]
The copyright is used to standardize Grok32's Language Specification.
The implementing software is free (publically distributed source code)…
This is an oversimplification.
Actually, Grok32Inc uses various copyright notices for various purposes consistent with a copyright policy documented in "CopyRite".
The language specification for Grok32` is a hypertext document involving many separate files in separate directories, all hyperlinked to the master document, “Grok32.htm”. This master document lists 32 hyperlinked keywords in each of 8 contexts which together constitute the Grok32` language. The source code or executable that implements the language specification is called the Grok32Kernal.
The language specification for Grok32` is copyrighted and cannot be copied without permission. The implementing source code, on the other hand, is distributed under the Free Software Foundation’s Lesser General Public License where appropriate. The language specification has some links to this source code. Generally, the legend at the bottom right on all these documents has a link to “Grok32.htm”, and a suitable copyright or license notice.
The hyperlinked Language Specification is kept in the Grok32 directory which contains the following subdirectories:
{Logic, Number, Construct, Condition, Process, Scope, Transit, Compile, Reference}
"Reference" is the only name in this list which does not refer to one of the 8 fundamental Grok32` Contexts.
The eight Contexts comprising Grok32`, are listed amongst the names in the Grok32 directory. The standard Grok32 directory list includes "Reference," which is not formally part of the Language Specification.
"Reference" stores copyright, business, and implementation scripts.
As far as the Language Specification is concerned, the only consequence of removing "Reference" from the Grok32 directory is that some none-essential links, (such as to common English definitions), will be dead. Grok32`s definition does not require the "Reference" directory.
Software licenses are only meaningful on specific hardware platforms. Such platform-specific details are not appropriate in the general Language Specification. The "Reference" directory houses the Licensing and compilation details for various hardware platforms consistent with Grok32Inc's mission. The "Reference" directory contains other ancillary documents. These include language, style, scripting, legal, and corporate references.
The Grok32` Kernel is executable source code, customized to popular Character Sets and Operating Systems, which implements the Language Specification. This source code is kept in appropriate subdirectories of the eliciting Grok32` keyword, together with documentation. The Language Specification may have hyperlinks to this source code (Usually, the Kernel code written in Grok32` is linked to the Language Specification, because this code is platform independent). But only the Kernal compilation scripts maintain a reliable list of documents used to create a platform's executable Kernel.
These scripts are specialized by platform. For this reason, they are not in the Language Specification. These scripts are kept in the Reference subdirectory "Scripts" ("…Grok32/Reference/Scripts/"). Each Kernel-compilation-script is customized by Operating System, and (sometimes) further specialized by hardware platform. These scripts direct the compilation of the source code documents dispersed throughout the Language Specification, targeted by hardware platform.
By contrast, the compiled Grok32` Kernel is a binary executable invoked by a specific platform's Operating System. This executables location is platform dependent and, presumably, placed when Grok32` is installed.
The mission of Grok32Inc is to make Grok32` universally available.
Toward this end, Grok32Inc’s priorities are:
The first of the above priorities has been accomplished. The second and third objectives await the completion of the Grok32` Kernal. The Kernal is the source code which implements the Language Specification. It is currently under development.
For $200, you get a complete Grok32` Language Specification together with a Grok32Subscription.
When Grok32`s Kernal becomes available, its distribution will cost $400 to allay 1st time production costs.
By purchasing your Grok32` package today, you will save $200.
"One cannot both expose knowledge to scrutiny and keep it for oneself to sell. It has to be one or the other."
[Robert B. Laughlin, Physics Today, volume 55, issue 12, page 10 — Reference ]
Grok32` is free software because Grok32Inc's mission is to make the language universally available.
The source code is public so that unfettered scrutiny and grace will combine to perfect the language's implementation.
Ultimately, this reflects the ideal that the inventory of knowledge is everyone's birthright.
Grok32` is a public vehicle for scientific and linguistic expression.
The GNU LESSER GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE is from the…
Free Software Foundation, Inc.
59 Temple Place, Suite 330
Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
The Grok32Subscription is essential.
Subscribers get the complete Language Specification, the current Grok32` Kernal compilations together with new application software as it becomes available. Subscribers have exclusive warranteed public source code license.
The Grok32` Kernal and ancillary application software are distributed under the Grok32`s Less General Public License, (Grok32`LGPL). This means that subscribers are free to copy, modify, and distribute source code (delivered by Grok32Inc), or products based on the source code, (with some restrictions), under the terms of the Grok32`s Less General Public License.
Applications planned for the Grok32` Subscription include the following:
Subscribers are kept abreast of the revolution in linguistic translation using Grok32`.
A two year subscription is currently $200, which will change to $400 when the Kernal becomes available.
Subscribers must fill out the following form and credit $200 (US) to Grok32Inc.
© 2006 John Van Wie Bergamini
All rights reserved.