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Why is it that so many open source developers simply copy commercial software instead of coming up with better ways to solve the same problem? Copying the creat
by deterministic 3y ago
Why is it that so many open source developers simply copy commercial software instead of coming up with better ways to solve the same problem? Copying the creative work of others is not admirable or something to be encouraged I think.
Especially when open source developers often makes unsubstantiated claims about the superiority of open source software.
- deterministic 3y agoWhy the downvote? Clearly a lot of open source software simply copy commercial software. GIMP and Libre Office are obvious examples. GIMP even copies the Photoshop many-windows-instead-of-a-single-parent-window UI. Something no other software use (AFAIK). And I will argue that GIMP and Libre Office (for example) are both very far from being as good as the commercial software they are copying. You might disagree of course but there is a reason why professional artists still pay for Photoshop instead of using GIMP. It simply can’t compete with Photoshop. Even with a $0 price tag! And the original author clearly states that he/she/it/they wants to copy commercial software without even trying to come up with something superior. Continuing the open source developer tradition of copying the work of others. Not something to be admired or encouraged.
- schwartzworld 3y agoProbably because they like a piece of software, but would rather use an open source solution. > Copying the creative work of others is not admirable or something to be encouraged I think. Of course it is. I literally play in a cover band where people come to listen to us "copy the creative work of others".