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There is one thing about open source that needs to be known. It is not self sustainable. It requires external factors for support. Allow me to elucidate. The s

There is one thing about open source that needs to be known. It is not self sustainable. It requires external factors for support. Allow me to elucidate. The software engineer occupation is a highly specialized role. A software engineer alone does not have the ability to survive, hunt food, or build shelter. Instead the software engineer must trade his skill for the services of other experts. In short, a software engineer who only gives away his work to the open source community basically can't pay the bills. He needs to sell his work. Although open source is built off of the leisure time of programmers that leisure time must be bought and paid for by an external factor. More often than not, that external factor is Closed source. Ironically, open source only exists because of closed sourced apps or web services.

openfuture 11y ago
Then the system needs to reflect that. If it weren't for open source it would be impossible to compete with established proprietary software companies. 'Proprietary licenses' should expire and become open just like copyright is supposed to.
davidw 11y ago
Only exists because of scarcity: http://journal.dedasys.com/2007/02/03/in-thrall-to-scarcity/ http://journal.dedasys.com/2007/02/03/in-thrall-to-scarcity/
logn 11y ago
I think the trend is that closed source software is increasingly becoming the highly customized last-mile code that runs a specific business which sells services, curated information, or physical products. I also think this is why jobs involving OSS development are increasingly attractive to candidates. Do you want to spend your time building what amounts to a one-off solution to duck tape some wonky IT-department components, or do you want to work on well-engineered projects that are generalized solutions? So I think closed source software is basically the last layer that integrates open source software. Which ever side you view as bringing in the sales and money is really just a matter of perspective.

openfuture 11y ago

Then the system needs to reflect that. If it weren't for open source it would be impossible to compete with established proprietary software companies. 'Proprietary licenses' should expire and become open just like copyright is supposed to.

davidw 11y ago

Only exists because of scarcity: http://journal.dedasys.com/2007/02/03/in-thrall-to-scarcity/ http://journal.dedasys.com/2007/02/03/in-thrall-to-scarcity/

logn 11y ago

I think the trend is that closed source software is increasingly becoming the highly customized last-mile code that runs a specific business which sells services, curated information, or physical products. I also think this is why jobs involving OSS development are increasingly attractive to candidates. Do you want to spend your time building what amounts to a one-off solution to duck tape some wonky IT-department components, or do you want to work on well-engineered projects that are generalized solutions? So I think closed source software is basically the last layer that integrates open source software. Which ever side you view as bringing in the sales and money is really just a matter of perspective.