computeron Hacker News • Recommends
On “How to Corrupt an SQLite Database File”
See this 3 minute presentation fragment about the "Do not use JSLint for Evil" license clause: link to this video
0:00 / 0:00
- Recommended by 3 people: 2 on Hacker News and 1 on Lobsters.
- A classic. People kept recommending it from 2013 to 2026.
- Presented by Douglas Crockford, creator of JSON
Beginner. No background in the topic needed.
14K views15 years ago3 recommendations
Tools and practiceHistory and cultureOpen sourceJavaScriptHistory of computing
Douglas Crockford shares the humorous story of why he added a clause to the JSLint license requiring it to be used for good.
JSON inventor Douglas Crockford explains why he gave permission for the reference implementation of JSLint to be used for evil.Why it's here
3 people recommend this, 1 disputes itWhat people say. Engineers frequently share this classic anecdote to illustrate the absurdity of corporate legal departments dealing with open-source software licenses.
SonOfLiliton Hacker News • Recommends
On “Ask HN: Software licensing excluding military use?”
David Crockford puts a "don't use this for evil" clause in the license for all software he releases, creating some interesting situations: link to this video (2:44 and worth it)
btillyon Hacker News • Disputes
On “In the bad old days we had Punchcards. How did people deal with that?”
When you know that history, IBM asking for an exemption to the JSLint license becomes less funny. Watch link to this video (2 minutes) to hear the story from the developer's point of view. Then consider how many totalitarian states today are using IBM computers to track their population. The developer might not realize it, but IBM lawyers absolutely know that they can be fairly accused of using JSLint for evil.
rogerbinnson Hacker News • Mentions
On “Show HN: What do you think of this short End User Licensing Agreement?”
…requires a definition. For example many would consider the US drone assassination program objectionable, and hence tar US companies and people with the same brush. Does that mean US companies and people can use the software? How many steps do they have to be removed (eg is providing the payroll software to the defense contractor a problem?) link link to this video Because of copyright laws, people can do virtually nothing with software. If you actually want to give the user freedoms - see link - then pick a well known free software license since it will have already addressed all these issues.…
tlrobinsonon Hacker News • Mentions
On “Does saying “Fuck You AWS” constitute offensive content?”
This reminds me of Douglas Crockford's classic story about the JSLint license containing a "The software shall be used for Good, not Evil" clause: link to this video
eastonon Hacker News • Mentions
On “SQLite Plus: Missing SQLite functions”
That's what I was talking about. Crawford said in a talk he had to make an amended licenses for corporations (namely, IBM), who had lawyers that needed to be able to get around the evil restriction. link to this video