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I wonder why that is? I guess the relative ease with which software is created and published? Do civil engineers have the opportunity to create the bridge vers

I wonder why that is? I guess the relative ease with which software is created and published? Do civil engineers have the opportunity to create the bridge version of Linux as their masters project? I think the physical limitations of bridge building means that there isn't a great analog to Linux in the civil engineering field. The only field I can come up with that could behave similar to software is art. Why don't artist release art "open source" for others to use and transform? I could certainly see compensation as a factor: artists are famously underpaid so they are not willing to work for free. Or maybe it's a cultural thing, where lots of people using your open source library translates into respect for the author, but lots of people ripping off an artist could have the opposite effect?

TheKarateKid 6y ago
> Do civil engineers have the opportunity to create the bridge version of Linux as their masters project? I think the physical limitations of bridge building means that there isn't a great analog to Linux in the civil engineering field. That may be true to build final product, but to even become interested or explore the field of engineering (and other professions) has a lot of roadblocks and expenses that software developers don't have to deal with. Imagine having to pay $2000 for a Windows Server + MS SQL license to develop your small website. Whoops! I forgot the $500 license for Visual Studio just to get your code to compile. The availability and power of free, open-source software greatly lowers the barrier to entry for anyone and everyone: hobbyists to make and release a project, startups to create their product on low/no budget, curious people interested in trying programming. The fact that this free and open software rivals and often beats its paid equivalents is absolutely amazing. It's why despite the problems in our industry, I am so proud to be a part of it.

TheKarateKid 6y ago

> Do civil engineers have the opportunity to create the bridge version of Linux as their masters project? I think the physical limitations of bridge building means that there isn't a great analog to Linux in the civil engineering field. That may be true to build final product, but to even become interested or explore the field of engineering (and other professions) has a lot of roadblocks and expenses that software developers don't have to deal with. Imagine having to pay $2000 for a Windows Server + MS SQL license to develop your small website. Whoops! I forgot the $500 license for Visual Studio just to get your code to compile. The availability and power of free, open-source software greatly lowers the barrier to entry for anyone and everyone: hobbyists to make and release a project, startups to create their product on low/no budget, curious people interested in trying programming. The fact that this free and open software rivals and often beats its paid equivalents is absolutely amazing. It's why despite the problems in our industry, I am so proud to be a part of it.