5 ms·

Should software companies give access to source code so that users can fix bugs?

• foobarbecue 6y ago
  Yes
• Lio 6y ago
  This, I believe, was the original driver for Richard Stallman to start the GNU project. The story I heard him tell was about two printers at MIT. An old one with source code available which they were able to upgrade with many new network features. The other a modern one with better performance but closed source software. Stallman actually found out that a colleague had been given access to the source code but told explicitly not to allow other MIT staff to see it. That infuriated him enough to create the Free Software movement.
• HomeDeLaPot 6y ago
  Yes, depending on the audience. If it's a software library, it should be open source—devs are likely to benefit from reading the source, if not likely to contribute fixes. If it's some kind of SaaS or mobile app, maybe nobody will take the time to contribute anything worthwhile. But I would say iPhones and tractors are widely used, expensive, and have capable audiences, making them great candidates for right to repair/contribute/learn. John Deere and Apple have simply found that they can make more money by forcing users to come to them for repairs.