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> On the other hand, with open source, we have a different set of social conventions Agreed. I'd like to see this particular convention change. > Do you view

> On the other hand, with open source, we have a different set of social conventions Agreed. I'd like to see this particular convention change. > Do you view it as ethical for someone to use open source software without payment? Sure, assuming the license says it's ok. So I guess technically were talking about FOSS. > Isn't that also getting something for nothing? I didn't put this well before, but the problem isn't in getting something for nothing per se. The difference comes from the cost imposed on the other party involved. If I download your code, the cost we both pay rounds off to 0. But if you implement something for me, you pay a hefty cost in time while my cost remains 0. So all the value produced goes to me, and you get very close to nothing. I see a problem with any situation where you end up worse off and I end up better off. This is the source of much open source project mortality. The core developer(s) give until they give out. > Is it ethical for someone to ask a question on one of my blog posts without offering to pay me for my answer? Depends. If they are profiting off of the response and all you get is the work of answering, then no. You will eventually get bitter and stop blogging unless you are some angelic person.

jefftk 6y ago
> if you implement something for me, you pay a hefty cost in time while my cost remains 0. So all the value produced goes to me, and you get very close to nothing. I think this is the core of our disagreement. If someone makes a feature request, and I think it makes the project better overall and decide to implement it, I have benefited. I wrote the software because I wanted it to be good and useful, and they have helped me make it better and more useful. If someone asks for a feature that only would benefit them, that's different, but I'm also not likely to implement it. Similarly, if I were getting a large number of unpleasant entitled requests, I might get grumpy, but having those requests come with payments attached wouldn't help my feelings much. I do this for fun in my spare time; I don't want it to be a job. > If they are profiting off of the response and all you get is the work of answering, then no. I disagree there as well. I'll answer if I feel like answering, and if they ask an interesting question then I'm happy to do that. It doesn't matter to me whether or not they make a profit from my response. I have several blog posts [1][2][3] where I would love it if someone would make a successful commercial product out of, since that would let more people use the tech, and if someone was working in this direction I would be happy to answer questions. [1] https://www.jefftk.com/p/footboard-v3 https://www.jefftk.com/p/footboard-v3 [2] https://www.jefftk.com/bass-whistle https://www.jefftk.com/bass-whistle [3] https://www.jefftk.com/p/bucket-brigade-singing https://www.jefftk.com/p/bucket-brigade-singing

jefftk 6y ago

> if you implement something for me, you pay a hefty cost in time while my cost remains 0. So all the value produced goes to me, and you get very close to nothing. I think this is the core of our disagreement. If someone makes a feature request, and I think it makes the project better overall and decide to implement it, I have benefited. I wrote the software because I wanted it to be good and useful, and they have helped me make it better and more useful. If someone asks for a feature that only would benefit them, that's different, but I'm also not likely to implement it. Similarly, if I were getting a large number of unpleasant entitled requests, I might get grumpy, but having those requests come with payments attached wouldn't help my feelings much. I do this for fun in my spare time; I don't want it to be a job. > If they are profiting off of the response and all you get is the work of answering, then no. I disagree there as well. I'll answer if I feel like answering, and if they ask an interesting question then I'm happy to do that. It doesn't matter to me whether or not they make a profit from my response. I have several blog posts [1][2][3] where I would love it if someone would make a successful commercial product out of, since that would let more people use the tech, and if someone was working in this direction I would be happy to answer questions. [1] https://www.jefftk.com/p/footboard-v3 https://www.jefftk.com/p/footboard-v3 [2] https://www.jefftk.com/bass-whistle https://www.jefftk.com/bass-whistle [3] https://www.jefftk.com/p/bucket-brigade-singing https://www.jefftk.com/p/bucket-brigade-singing