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Because it's fun. I love writing software. I've been programming for nigh-on 20 years, but it's only been in the last 3 or so of those that selling software h
by wheels 16y ago
Because it's fun. I love writing software. I've been programming for nigh-on 20 years, but it's only been in the last 3 or so of those that selling software has even remotely interested me.
I could go on and on about what I've gotten out of doing open source stuff – it's made me a much better programmer, it's opened up doors to jobs that I'd not have had by other means, but really, at the end of the day, I've written a bunch of this stuff because I liked doing it. Also, for those who are working a day-job in addition to the stuff they're doing on the side, there's something freeing about being able to write OSS stuff outside of business constraints, what your boss told you to do, what the market thinks it wants ... you get to simply write software the way you think it should be written.
- _delirium 16y agoAlso, for those who are working a day-job in addition to the stuff they're doing on the side, there's something freeing about being able to write OSS stuff outside of business constraints That's a big part of my reason. If I'm already working a day job, there's something freeing about not having to worry about whether my side project makes any money or not. Just do what I think is a good idea, release it, done. Actually I do that for writing also. I spend a bunch of time writing Wikipedia articles, writing answers on various question forums, posting on HN and Slashdot, etc., when in theory I could probably find some way to monetize my writing. But writing a Wikipedia article on something I find interesting is an enjoyable hobby, while figuring out how to start a website with similar content that I could monetize feels like it'd be more of a job.