About

My main tech interests are in evolving web technologies and the devices that will use them. I’m also very interested in security issues, especially cryptography.

I’m a firm believer that there is no such thing as an obsolete computer. I generally shun software that requires me to buy new hardware. As testament of this, I have many very old computers in working order. The PCs mostly run BSD and Damn Small Linux (one still has BeOS on its hard drive), and I have a couple with Windows (NT Workstation and XP) as well as a couple old Macs.

I have some strong convictions, too, on software licensing. I favor the BSD license because it allows full freedom of both the creator and the user. I respect the decision of those who use other licenses or patents — the more restrictive, the less inclined I am to use it unless I have to. I oppose language in the recent GPLv3 draft that for all intents and purposes shifts the licensing focus from software to data (DRM) and hardware (so-called “tivoization”). I think GPLv3 reflects a dogmatic approach to certain issues that should be left outside the realm of open source software. I also think the biggest hurdle to wider adoption of open source is the so-called Free Software Foundation because of their doctrinaire extremism — which not only alienates businesses but also developers of open source software.

When I’m not working or playing in front of a computer, I enjoy running and cycling, cooking, reading, jazz, and classical music.