Code as a Struggle. A Short History of IT. 6. Richard Stallman

This article from the "Code as a Struggle" series focuses on Richard Stallman, a pivotal figure in the history of free software. The author explores the origins of the movement, sparked by an incident involving a broken printer driver that could not be fixed due to proprietary license restrictions. This event served as a catalyst for the free software philosophy, which fundamentally altered the legal and technical architecture of the modern development industry. The piece emphasizes the need to distinguish between Stallman's technological contributions and his complex personal reputation. The article invites readers to examine the roots of the fight for open source, which defined the trajectory of the IT industry for decades, transforming programming from a closed commercial activity into a public good.