5 ms·

All software should be free, The marginal cost of one more user is exactly zero

nordsieck 8y ago
> All software should be free, The marginal cost of one more user is exactly zero All bridges should be free, The marginal cost of one more user is effectively zero.
- sciurus 8y ago
  Toll bridges are quite rare. Most bridges are publicly funded via taxes and free to use, just like Ghidra.
  - jki275 8y ago
    Speak for yourself, I pay a fortune in tolls.
    - zentiggr 8y ago
      Time to stop driving the Mass Pike (I know, regional humor/rant.)
      - jki275 8y ago
        Sometimes it's an hour or more in time savings.. Not MA, probably just as bad in DC.
- Wowfunhappy 8y ago
  While I agree with your overall point, this isn't the greatest analogy, because a finite number of users are able to use a bridge simultaneously. A bridge with too many users is called a traffic jam.
  - acct1771 8y ago
    A piece of software with users who can't support themselves when issues crop up (and sustain their longterm usage) has effectively the same issue.
- adrianN 8y ago
  If you're suggesting we should fund critical software in the same way that we fund bridges, then I support that motion.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - qubex 8y ago
    Quite ironically for the GP, that's exactly what has happened in this case: a taxpayer-funded governmental organisation (NSA) has produced and released a public good for free consumption. They literally saw the toll bridge (IDA Pro), said ‘nope’ for whatever internal reason, built a new one downstream, drove their vehicles across it, and then said “hey folks, this over here is for you to use for free whenever you want”.
- lemonhuman 8y ago
  Bad analogy. Bridges have upkeep.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
acdha 8y ago
The people who make software need to be paid. Where do you think that’s coming from – ads?
- acct1771 8y ago
  Currently, yeah.
cbsks 8y ago
The first user can cost a lot, however
jimrhods23 8y ago
Along these lines, the first customer should pay the millions of dollars it takes to market and produce the software and then they can do what they want with it.
ringaroll 8y ago
Okay, they you be the first user and pay the R&D costs + the salaries + bug fixing future expenses. I hope you got a billion in your pocket.

> All software should be free, The marginal cost of one more user is exactly zero All bridges should be free, The marginal cost of one more user is effectively zero.

sciurus 8y ago
Toll bridges are quite rare. Most bridges are publicly funded via taxes and free to use, just like Ghidra.
- jki275 8y ago
  Speak for yourself, I pay a fortune in tolls.
  - zentiggr 8y ago
    Time to stop driving the Mass Pike (I know, regional humor/rant.)
    - jki275 8y ago
      Sometimes it's an hour or more in time savings.. Not MA, probably just as bad in DC.
Wowfunhappy 8y ago
While I agree with your overall point, this isn't the greatest analogy, because a finite number of users are able to use a bridge simultaneously. A bridge with too many users is called a traffic jam.
- acct1771 8y ago
  A piece of software with users who can't support themselves when issues crop up (and sustain their longterm usage) has effectively the same issue.
adrianN 8y ago
If you're suggesting we should fund critical software in the same way that we fund bridges, then I support that motion.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- qubex 8y ago
  Quite ironically for the GP, that's exactly what has happened in this case: a taxpayer-funded governmental organisation (NSA) has produced and released a public good for free consumption. They literally saw the toll bridge (IDA Pro), said ‘nope’ for whatever internal reason, built a new one downstream, drove their vehicles across it, and then said “hey folks, this over here is for you to use for free whenever you want”.
lemonhuman 8y ago
Bad analogy. Bridges have upkeep.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

acdha 8y ago

The people who make software need to be paid. Where do you think that’s coming from – ads?

acct1771 8y ago
Currently, yeah.

cbsks 8y ago

The first user can cost a lot, however

jimrhods23 8y ago

Along these lines, the first customer should pay the millions of dollars it takes to market and produce the software and then they can do what they want with it.

ringaroll 8y ago

Okay, they you be the first user and pay the R&D costs + the salaries + bug fixing future expenses. I hope you got a billion in your pocket.