You are here: silicon.com > Hardware > Servers

Servers

Stallman slams the cloud as "stupidity"

You'll be "putty in the hands" of your host

Tags: amazon, microsoft, google, stallman

By Mike Ricciuti

Published: 1 October 2008 08:41 GMT

Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation and creator of the GNU operating system, has slammed cloud computing as "stupidity" that ultimately will result in vendor lock-in and escalating costs.

In a report posted by The Guardian, Stallman said: "The interesting thing about cloud computing is that we've redefined [it] to include everything that we already do."

Cloud computing, the latest marketing description for a notion put forth by computer industry companies in recent years, moves most of the computing power - and sometimes data - to servers maintained by companies such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon. The classic example of cloud computing might be Gmail, offered by Google.

Stallman said cloud computing forces people to hand over control of their information to a third party. His objections echo his longstanding belief in non-proprietary software. "One reason you should not use web applications to do your computing is that you lose control," he said. "It's just as bad as using a proprietary program."

He added: "Do your own computing on your own computer with your copy of a freedom-respecting program. If you use a proprietary program or somebody else's web server, you're defenceless. You're putty in the hands of whoever developed that software."

Stallman dismissed cloud computing as industry bluster. "It's stupidity. It's worse than stupidity: it's a marketing hype campaign," he said. "Somebody is saying this is inevitable - and whenever you hear somebody saying that, it's very likely to be a set of businesses campaigning to make it true."

Original article: Stallman: Cloud computing is 'stupidity' from CNET News.com

  1. Zones
  2. Management
  3. Networks
  4. Software
  5. IT Services
  6. Hardware
  1. Verticals
  2. Public Sector
  3. Financial Services
  4. Retail & Leisure

Seb Janacek Magic Mouse - Apple's best ever? Minority Report: After years of disappointment, one Mac lover has hope

Bethan Jones Can I use a netbook as my everyday work machine? Why silicon.com's sub editor is ditching her laptop for a sprightly mini-laptop


  • Jobs
Senior Systems Administrator (Linux, RedHat, Amazon EC2, Apache)

Senior Systems Administrator (Linux, RedHat, Amazon EC2, Apache) Senior systems administrator with a strong technical background in Linux, required ...

Web Analyst (Analytics)

The firm is experiencing year on year growth and in the last quarter posted record results. You WILL be familiar with an analytics package from firms ...

Technical Digital PM New Urgent

Working knowledge of escalating client issues to line management Producing and maintaining digital projects across their client base: including ...

Agenda Setters 2009
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.





Quick Sitemap Links: