Open Source/Free Software
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 2:46 am
I have read about OS software quite a bit and I do know the advantages it brings etc, but still, why would one take his time, effort and resources to develop a high quality product and not get a single penny back? You may say, you can sell your code, but everyone can sell it too.
For example, I look at myself. If I had a good idea right now, would I take my time to develop the product and license it as open source software? No, I would try to sell it. Would I do this if I had plenty of free time and no worries about paying my bills? Maybe I would.
Sometimes I just wonder if people don't need the money... I can see it being fun, interesting (co-developing) and the philosophy is there as well - after all you're doing a good job making it available to anyone... but this is only if I don't have to be worried about my existance.
I know that some organizations fund the devs of OSS... but why not sell the product after it's finished?
Some also look at it as a devalvation of development as a service... Everything a casual client may want is available free of charge. There's always custom work available, yes, but your chances of selling (and re-selling again) your own ready-made software are few, unless you have something very sophisticated (and even then you may find one day there's an open source (maybe even better) alternative already). You won't find a lawyer consulting you for free, and yet you can find plenty of freely available software. And this 'free' concept is something clients like to keep in mind. "Everything's free - you just install me this and that, here's $20, thx".
So, yeah, these are my thoughts.
For example, I look at myself. If I had a good idea right now, would I take my time to develop the product and license it as open source software? No, I would try to sell it. Would I do this if I had plenty of free time and no worries about paying my bills? Maybe I would.
Sometimes I just wonder if people don't need the money... I can see it being fun, interesting (co-developing) and the philosophy is there as well - after all you're doing a good job making it available to anyone... but this is only if I don't have to be worried about my existance.
I know that some organizations fund the devs of OSS... but why not sell the product after it's finished?
Some also look at it as a devalvation of development as a service... Everything a casual client may want is available free of charge. There's always custom work available, yes, but your chances of selling (and re-selling again) your own ready-made software are few, unless you have something very sophisticated (and even then you may find one day there's an open source (maybe even better) alternative already). You won't find a lawyer consulting you for free, and yet you can find plenty of freely available software. And this 'free' concept is something clients like to keep in mind. "Everything's free - you just install me this and that, here's $20, thx".
So, yeah, these are my thoughts.