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IMHO, you're missing the point. The RepRap project might not be economically interesting, but it might put technologies and capabilities into the hands of comp
by theBobMcCormick 16y ago
IMHO, you're missing the point. The RepRap project might not be economically interesting, but it might put technologies and capabilities into the hands of companies and entrepreneurs who will do economically (and socially, culturally, etc.) interesting things. As a comparison, Linux distributions, Linux kernel development, etc. aren't economically interesting or significant, but nobody in their right mind would claim that Linux hasn't had a huge effect on startups and on the entire tech industry.
- maxharris 16y agoWell, FreeBSD would have fit into the spot Linux took up if the legal matters (USL vs BSDi) involved were just a little different. So I agree with the larger point, which is that something like RepRap (self-replicating, etc.) is interesting. But I'm not convinced that RepRap is that project.
- theBobMcCormick 16y agoThat's a good point. There certainly were/are other projects that could have fit into the same nitch Linux ended up filling. But what are the alternatives to RepRap? Makerbot maybe? Any others?
- evangineer 16y agoThat's my take. RepRap is enabling interesting activity. It will be great when something better comes along, but there's many people who can get use out of RepRap in the meantime.