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There are many ways to be rewarded for one's efforts. When I give my source code away it's not because I'm being exploited, it's because I'm doing the work for

There are many ways to be rewarded for one's efforts. When I give my source code away it's not because I'm being exploited, it's because I'm doing the work for some other motivation. Keeping the code locked up afterward doesn't benefit me. It's a lot of work to start and maintain a business, and it's often more hassle than it's worth to try to charge for software. If I have some motivation to create a thing, and that thing has been created, what do I lose by sharing it? I can only do so many things at a time. I can't possibly run as many businesses at a time as it would take to charge money for all the code I write. So, why not give it away?

chii 8y ago
> what do I lose by sharing it? absolutely nothing. Which is indeed one particular type of OSS model. The best kind imho. But this thread has been talking about business models which involve using OSS to get a customer in the door who will then pay the business for other things (such as hosting/services). Under the OSS, this business model seems to be failing as major corporations start to encroach.
jplayer01 8y ago
It's weird how programmers are the only workers who think it's okay to give away their work for free for businesses to use and sell in their own products. Nobody expects firefighters or nurses to work for free. Even if lawyers sometimes have to work pro bono, it's to serve marginalized or poor communities/demographics, not to enrich massive, incredibly wealthy companies.
- dwaltrip 8y ago
  Millions of people every year make great salaries working as programmers. Many artists give away their work. Scientists give away their work. The DIY community and maker community give away their work. And so on... programmers aren't unique here. Framing all of OSS as simply "free labor to enrich massive, incredible wealth companies" is just wrong. That being said, I do agree we can certainly do a better job of supporting OSS work. I hope to see continued innovation in this area.
  - arvinsim 8y ago
    > Many artists give away their work. Scientists give away their work. Funny you should mention this. Look into the median salaries of these professions, not the outliers. I am not against OSS but when something is given away for free, people will have the perception that it has less value. Once that thought has anchored, no one will be willing to pay more in the future. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchoring https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchoring
- caf 8y ago
  Huh? There are plenty of volunteer firefighters who work for free.
- pjmlp 8y ago
  Worse, many think is ok to be payed for their work, while stating it is imoral to pay others for the tools they use.

chii 8y ago

> what do I lose by sharing it? absolutely nothing. Which is indeed one particular type of OSS model. The best kind imho. But this thread has been talking about business models which involve using OSS to get a customer in the door who will then pay the business for other things (such as hosting/services). Under the OSS, this business model seems to be failing as major corporations start to encroach.

jplayer01 8y ago

It's weird how programmers are the only workers who think it's okay to give away their work for free for businesses to use and sell in their own products. Nobody expects firefighters or nurses to work for free. Even if lawyers sometimes have to work pro bono, it's to serve marginalized or poor communities/demographics, not to enrich massive, incredibly wealthy companies.

dwaltrip 8y ago
Millions of people every year make great salaries working as programmers. Many artists give away their work. Scientists give away their work. The DIY community and maker community give away their work. And so on... programmers aren't unique here. Framing all of OSS as simply "free labor to enrich massive, incredible wealth companies" is just wrong. That being said, I do agree we can certainly do a better job of supporting OSS work. I hope to see continued innovation in this area.
- arvinsim 8y ago
  > Many artists give away their work. Scientists give away their work. Funny you should mention this. Look into the median salaries of these professions, not the outliers. I am not against OSS but when something is given away for free, people will have the perception that it has less value. Once that thought has anchored, no one will be willing to pay more in the future. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchoring https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchoring
caf 8y ago
Huh? There are plenty of volunteer firefighters who work for free.
pjmlp 8y ago
Worse, many think is ok to be payed for their work, while stating it is imoral to pay others for the tools they use.