Comments on: Open Source software has nothing to do with communism, and it is not free either http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/ Scratchpad on Wicket, programming and stuff Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:27:58 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Eelco Hillenius http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9273 Eelco Hillenius Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:58:15 +0000 http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9273 Anonymous coward (or: 'Someone'), The distinction between 'product' and 'project' is vague, but I think I understand what you mean. And I disagree. You have to understand what drives developers involved in open source projects/ products. Their typical motivation* is to solve problems they need solved for their paying day jobs (typically referred to as 'scratch their itch'). When they think they have a better solution to a problem, they create their own projects (or products), or when they find a solution they really like, they might get involved with an existing one. Such developers are very rarely motivated by directly making money off the project, but rather by the fact that by creating or joining projects, they can better steer the outcomes. Successful open source projects have thousands of users, each potentially contributing a large number of testing hours and testing corner cases (since those users will use the software in their own ways). Among the strongest arguments for using open source software is that it makes companies less dependent on specific vendors. When using open source software, one can thoroughly analyze the software for potential problems and react quickly in case of emergencies. Open source software is more often than not motivated as a form of self-help, rarely is it written with the intention to directly make money of it. Which doesn't make it communistic as I tried to explain in the article. * A variety of studies showed this, and it is also my own motivation and the motivation of all colleague open source developers I personally know. Anonymous coward (or: ‘Someone’),

The distinction between ‘product’ and ‘project’ is vague, but I think I understand what you mean. And I disagree.

You have to understand what drives developers involved in open source projects/ products. Their typical motivation* is to solve problems they need solved for their paying day jobs (typically referred to as ’scratch their itch’). When they think they have a better solution to a problem, they create their own projects (or products), or when they find a solution they really like, they might get involved with an existing one. Such developers are very rarely motivated by directly making money off the project, but rather by the fact that by creating or joining projects, they can better steer the outcomes. Successful open source projects have thousands of users, each potentially contributing a large number of testing hours and testing corner cases (since those users will use the software in their own ways).

Among the strongest arguments for using open source software is that it makes companies less dependent on specific vendors. When using open source software, one can thoroughly analyze the software for potential problems and react quickly in case of emergencies. Open source software is more often than not motivated as a form of self-help, rarely is it written with the intention to directly make money of it. Which doesn’t make it communistic as I tried to explain in the article.

* A variety of studies showed this, and it is also my own motivation and the motivation of all colleague open source developers I personally know.

]]> By: someone else http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9257 someone else Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:59:15 +0000 http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9257 I downloaded Gimp and have use it for a while now. Every time I needed "support" , I used google and there was the answer. Granted I am not a professional graphics artist and I am not using Gimp to build the next MRI imaging system. But my point is that I didn't need to contact the Gimp team and buy support. Without Gimp I would need to buy a copy from someone. I am a software developer myself. If someone was to subsidize my projects as they do in Euro or If was a student getting credit for open source projects which later I can use on my resume so that later I can get a job with a "closed source company" maybe I would be willing to write free software I downloaded Gimp and have use it for a while now. Every time I needed “support” , I used google and there was the answer. Granted I am not a
professional graphics artist and I am not using Gimp to build the next MRI imaging system. But my point is that I didn’t need to contact the Gimp team and buy support. Without Gimp I would need to buy a copy from someone. I am a software developer myself. If someone was to subsidize my projects as they do in Euro or If was a student getting credit for open source projects which later I can use on my resume so that later I can get a job with a “closed source company” maybe I would be willing to write free software

]]> By: Someone http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9256 Someone Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:26:59 +0000 http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9256 Open source is good for projects, not for products. Its good if you need to find something, maybe even just examine a technique someone used. Its good if you can offer to sell training on a platform you've developed because its hot and new. But in the end it seems like a futile exercise in doing something for nothing. If its educational, great. But if you create something that everyone uses and you don't or can't actively seek credit - simply because of how its distributed - well, fine by me I guess. Kudos and pats on the back are nice, but really. Its the most useful code that ultimately will be copied the most and taken for granted if its free. It will wind its way into a commercial product. Its the entrepreneur and aggregator that will hire a bunch of uninspired developers to port all the open source code they can find into a meaningful and marketable package, anyway. In that sense, open source has its own built in throttle. Open source is good for projects, not for products. Its good if you need to find something, maybe even just examine a technique someone used. Its good if you can offer to sell training on a platform you’ve developed because its hot and new.

But in the end it seems like a futile exercise in doing something for nothing. If its educational, great. But if you create something that everyone uses and you don’t or can’t actively seek credit – simply because of how its distributed – well, fine by me I guess.

Kudos and pats on the back are nice, but really. Its the most useful code that ultimately will be copied the most and taken for granted if its free. It will wind its way into a commercial product.

Its the entrepreneur and aggregator that will hire a bunch of uninspired developers to port all the open source code they can find into a meaningful and marketable package, anyway. In that sense, open source has its own built in throttle.

]]> By: Wille http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9226 Wille Sun, 20 Jan 2008 11:01:26 +0000 http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9226 <i>You will end up voting for a Communist or Hilary Clinton, I guarantee it.</i> There's a difference? :D Nah, just joking, and no, I'm not a partisan hack either (the other "team" is just as bad).. You will end up voting for a Communist or Hilary Clinton, I guarantee it.
There’s a difference? :D

Nah, just joking, and no, I’m not a partisan hack either (the other “team” is just as bad)..

]]> By: Jack http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9225 Jack Sun, 20 Jan 2008 06:19:54 +0000 http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9225 Wow...yea that statement warrants a harsh reply and a firm kick to the nuts. However, because I'm feeling constructive, I will let him off with some *free* advice on how to be less of a jackass. 1. Never use an exclamation point (!) ever again. You are too stupid to be that sure about anything. 2. Do not exercise your right to vote...ever. You will end up voting for a Communist or Hilary Clinton, I guarantee it. Wow…yea that statement warrants a harsh reply and a firm kick to the nuts.
However, because I’m feeling constructive, I will let him off with some *free* advice on how to be less of a jackass.

1. Never use an exclamation point (!) ever again. You are too stupid to be that sure about anything.
2. Do not exercise your right to vote…ever. You will end up voting for a Communist or Hilary Clinton, I guarantee it.

]]> By: links for 2008-01-19 « Object neo = neo Object http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9224 links for 2008-01-19 « Object neo = neo Object Sat, 19 Jan 2008 23:22:30 +0000 http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9224 [...] Open Source software has nothing to do with communism, and it is not free either « Chillenious! Pessoal, open source e free software são coisas distintas, ok? (tags: oss) [...] [...] Open Source software has nothing to do with communism, and it is not free either « Chillenious! Pessoal, open source e free software são coisas distintas, ok? (tags: oss) [...]

]]> By: Open Source is hypercapitalism and hypercompetition (at its best) « Wille Faler’s Buzzword Bingo http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9223 Open Source is hypercapitalism and hypercompetition (at its best) « Wille Faler’s Buzzword Bingo Sat, 19 Jan 2008 21:10:05 +0000 http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9223 [...] January 19, 2008 Posted by Wille in Investing & Economics, Software Development. trackback Eelco Hillenius brought someone elses claims of “Open source being communism” to my attention. As [...] [...] January 19, 2008 Posted by Wille in Investing & Economics, Software Development. trackback Eelco Hillenius brought someone elses claims of “Open source being communism” to my attention. As [...]

]]> By: Wille http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9222 Wille Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:56:14 +0000 http://chillenious.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/open-source-software-has-nothing-to-do-with-communism-and-it-is-not-free-either/#comment-9222 Open source, when applied in a business sense is the antithesis of communism: it is hypercompetition and close to a perfect, efficient market, in they way that it drives down prices and lowers barriers of entry. (Side note: a hallmark of an efficient market is that profits and margins dwindle, which in software terms means that open source makes it almost impossible for proprietary software to make the astronomic profits they used to). Open source, when applied in a business sense is the antithesis of communism: it is hypercompetition and close to a perfect, efficient market, in they way that it drives down prices and lowers barriers of entry.

(Side note: a hallmark of an efficient market is that profits and margins dwindle, which in software terms means that open source makes it almost impossible for proprietary software to make the astronomic profits they used to).

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