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Because most for-profit closed-source software is made by companies. It's in their best interest to use Open Source libraries in their software - it's free work
by eeZah7Ux 10y ago
Because most for-profit closed-source software is made by companies. It's in their best interest to use Open Source libraries in their software - it's free work and they don't have to give anything back.
- falcolas 10y ago> Open Source [...] it's free work I've heard this again and again, and yet every time I see open source used by a company, there are patches being applied, compliance concerns and audits, and integration efforts. Sometimes this effort costs less than writing the code yourself (such as integrating with a database), but not always.
- nopzor 10y agoIt can be one sided taking, and _often_ is. Apple and Microsoft, for example, have taken significantly from BSD/Apache-like code for their own OSes. They wouldn't have been able to do that with GPL-like code.
- bluGill 10y agoBSD advocates will tell you this is a feature not a bug and object to your use of the word "taken" as if it is a bad thing. Apple at least has contributed a lot back - they are a major force behind clang for example.
- boomboomsubban 10y ago>They wouldn't have been able to do that with GPL-like code Then explain Android.
- nopzor 10y agohttp://source.android.com/ http://source.android.com/ an android phone is oss android plus a bunch of proprietary (non oss) google bits.
- boomboomsubban 10y agoGoogle took significantly from GPL licensed code for their own operating system, which is exactly what you said couldn't happen.