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> That implies that the FOSS code is garbage which we all know it is not. That's not quite how I read it. FOSS in general (e.g. public github as a whole) is a

> That implies that the FOSS code is garbage which we all know it is not. That's not quite how I read it. FOSS in general (e.g. public github as a whole) is a "pile" of projects widely ranging in quality, most relatively poor. It's up to all of us to use our "raccoon noses" to find the treasures or "diamonds in the rough".

Dalewyn 3y ago
To add to this, the raccoon is looking for free-as-in-beer food. What do most people (including businesses) want? Free-as-in-beer software, because nobody wants to pay out unless they get an invoice in the mail. What does FOSS provide? Free-as-in-beer open source software.
- pavel_lishin 3y ago
  What's more, if the raccoon is particularly savvy - or let's say, he's a human dumpster diver looking for one-day-past-expiration bread - he's aware that some stores will pour bleach onto their food products. He knows the risks, and it's kind of silly to suggest that the store throwing out the bread owes it to the raccoon to provide it on a fine dining platter.
ADeerAppeared 3y ago
The quality isn't the (main) point, it's the supply-chain relationship. Suppose our Raccoon finds a fan in the dumpster. Standard electric consumer grade fan. It might even be a really nice not-garbage fan. It's just been put out free to take on the condition that there's no liability or guaranteed support. If the Raccoon uses the fan as expected; For personal cooling purposes. There's no problem. If the fan breaks, the original creator says "WONTFIX", the racoon is a little sad but all is fine in the world. Suppose instead our Raccoon runs a major aircraft manufacturing company. If it were to take this fan and use the fan blade for a turbojet engine. The fan breaks now, a plane crash-lands and people are injured, the big company insists that it be repaired immediately. The original creator says "WONTFIX", and the company's VP of security is outraged. "Do you not understand how serious this is? The fan is used in a major airplane, you must fix it. It's no longer a hobby, you're part of our supply chain!" Now obviously, were Raccoon-Boeing to use fan blades from consumer fans put out on the road free-to-take, there'd be mass outrage. Obviously the person who gave away their fan isn't liable for the misuse of the thing they gave away. They owe the company nothing. If anything there'd be riots in the streets about the Racoons being this reckless. So why do we let software firms get away with this?

Dalewyn 3y ago

To add to this, the raccoon is looking for free-as-in-beer food. What do most people (including businesses) want? Free-as-in-beer software, because nobody wants to pay out unless they get an invoice in the mail. What does FOSS provide? Free-as-in-beer open source software.

pavel_lishin 3y ago
What's more, if the raccoon is particularly savvy - or let's say, he's a human dumpster diver looking for one-day-past-expiration bread - he's aware that some stores will pour bleach onto their food products. He knows the risks, and it's kind of silly to suggest that the store throwing out the bread owes it to the raccoon to provide it on a fine dining platter.

ADeerAppeared 3y ago

The quality isn't the (main) point, it's the supply-chain relationship. Suppose our Raccoon finds a fan in the dumpster. Standard electric consumer grade fan. It might even be a really nice not-garbage fan. It's just been put out free to take on the condition that there's no liability or guaranteed support. If the Raccoon uses the fan as expected; For personal cooling purposes. There's no problem. If the fan breaks, the original creator says "WONTFIX", the racoon is a little sad but all is fine in the world. Suppose instead our Raccoon runs a major aircraft manufacturing company. If it were to take this fan and use the fan blade for a turbojet engine. The fan breaks now, a plane crash-lands and people are injured, the big company insists that it be repaired immediately. The original creator says "WONTFIX", and the company's VP of security is outraged. "Do you not understand how serious this is? The fan is used in a major airplane, you must fix it. It's no longer a hobby, you're part of our supply chain!" Now obviously, were Raccoon-Boeing to use fan blades from consumer fans put out on the road free-to-take, there'd be mass outrage. Obviously the person who gave away their fan isn't liable for the misuse of the thing they gave away. They owe the company nothing. If anything there'd be riots in the streets about the Racoons being this reckless. So why do we let software firms get away with this?