Lighthouse Applications as Free Software

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We, the undersigned, ask that Sun Microsystems release the Lighthouse Applications, which were once available for NeXTSTEP and OPENSTEP, as free software under any license conformant with the Free Software Definition as defined at http://www.fsf.org/philosophy/free-sw.html. A list of conformant licenses is available at http://www.fsf.org/licenses/license-list.html.

These applications are not adding to Sun Microsystems' bottom line as they are no longer available for sale anywhere. Additionally, they would provide a valuable starting point for development of similar productivity applications on Mac OS X and on other OpenStep compliant systems.

Releasing these applications as free software would increase competition, offer the end-user more choices, and would also increase Sun's visibility in these areas by expanding on it's list of open source/free software products (currently comprised only of the OpenOffice suite).

We hope that Sun Microsystems will see fit to grant this small request.

1198 Signatures

  • neville p
    • Comments
    • make gnustep/openstep desktop a viable alternative to M$ in educational institutes
  • James M
    • Comments
    • I fully agree with the sentiment of this petition
  • John A
    • Comments
    • I used lighthouse apps on NeXT black box and I thought they were great. I think it would be a useful idea to let them out the box again as I would wish to use them. Be nice and let us play.
  • Alvin J
  • Enrico S
  • Sean H
  • Matt G
    • Comments
    • Releasing the Lighthouse applications as free software would garner considerable goodwill for Sun, particularly from Mac OS X developers (OS X is an excellent Java platform, I might add).
  • Stefan P
    • Comments
    • I would like to see Lighthouse very much!
  • Don Y
    • Comments
    • I bought this suite of apps when it was first released, and would love to be able to use it again on modern hardware. Releasing it as free software would be an excellent way to do that.
  • Pat H
    • Comments
    • These apps were great under NeXTSTEP / OPENSTEP, and would be great for Mac OS X.
  • David R
    • Comments
    • Cocoa developer, Gothenburg, Sweden
  • Malte T
    • Comments
    • Awh, I remember that wet paint all over the place. Those were the days.
  • Stefan Kleine S
  • Stefan B
    • Comments
    • Lighthouse apps exceed in quality what is available even today after laying stale for half a decade or so
  • Alastair H
    • Comments
    • Releasing these apps as Free Software (or even just Open Source for that matter) seems like a good idea to me. Not only will it give Mac OS X and GNUStep developers some sophisticated examples to look at, but they sound like they were quite good apps as well.
  • Dirk T
    • Comments
    • We are waiting for this for ages! Sun has only to gain by supporting the open source movement!
  • Dimitrijevic
    • Comments
    • These softwares needs us!
  • Arnaud T
  • Sted
  • Olivier M
  • Christophe C
  • MOMPACH
  • Pete C
  • Mickaлl R
  • Serge S
  • Guillaume R
  • Anthony J
    • Comments
    • Open your source !
  • COIFFIER F
  • Pierre J
    • Comments
    • Please, save NeXTSTEP/OPENSTEP !
  • Jean-Marc R
  • Sйbastien P
    • Comments
    • I would like GNUStep/Cocoa to reach more people
  • Ivo M
  • Serge S
    • Comments
    • be good!
  • Francois B
    • Comments
    • it could be really great to open these sources and particulary if you don't use them !! Thanks
  • Spike
  • BARBIER K
  • cavallin
  • Frйdйric P
  • tournier
  • Etienne P
  • Steeve
  • Dans
    • Comments
    • Since 5 years, I use Gnustep.
  • Daire M
    • Comments
    • It's beastly that these are not free
  • Quinconneau
  • Laurent P
  • Britt C
  • Monnier W
  • Dominique C
  • Thierry L
    • Comments
    • NextStep was, Windows is, GnuStep will, help us
  • Scott E
    • Comments
    • Releasing these applications will focus positive attention on Sun, and will increase their visibility in the Apple market space. In addition, it will give Sun customer feedback on features that they might wish to implement in OpenOffice.