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What this post is talking about and what is in the video are somewhat different issues. The video is about whether what we choose to do with our life, vocationa

What this post is talking about and what is in the video are somewhat different issues. The video is about whether what we choose to do with our life, vocationally, should be driven by money while the post seems to be more about doing software for free. However, it's not really an RMS style argument. I always wonder why so many programmers act like we are all just drug dealers or gun runners, immorally making money from software we write. Do you think carpenters feel this way? It's one thing if you hold to RMS moral decision, whether it's an infantile one or not is another matter, but even if his view was the morally correct view, I think I'd choose the life of the gun runner anyway. :)

reedlaw 14y ago
I don't feel charging money for services or software is in any way immoral. But all other things being equal, I would rather work on a free, open source project than proprietary software. It just feels better to provide something useful to a wider audience at no cost than to produce something for a single client or a selective group of paying customers.
- dinkumthinkum 14y ago
  Well, maybe you say you don't think it is immoral but it does have some sort of bad connotation with it for you, perhaps quite a strong one? It's a strange thing, right. Without money most software wouldn't exist or have much of a reason to exist. But what I was getting at is in our world, the world of programmers, there is so much self-loathing about making money off of one's labor that doesn't exist in the vast majority of professions. Unless the whole world goes the way of Gene Rodenberry, how would these web apps be hosted and how would people have the actual hardware to run applications? I don't see anything wrong with one that 1) programs and 2) does not take a vow of poverty. Just my thoughts. :)
ksred 14y ago
I was aiming for it to be more of a meta, general viewpoint - "do you aim for happiness over cash in everything that you do, including software?" And I'm not saying it's immoral by any means, there is value in paid for services just like there is value in open source. Gun running is another issue :P
Vivtek 14y ago
Yeah, I've met carpenters who feel that way.
looser 14y ago
Just thinking about: Couldn't it be that software is heading a paradigm shift in the economic model? I would enjoy dealing with indie carpenters but still can't find them :)
svachalek 14y ago
If carpenters were building nice new houses and letting me move in with nothing more than a "thank you!", if I could walk into any restaurant or grocery store and just eat what I like, then MAN would I feel like a jerk for expecting to get paid for my software.
drcube 14y ago
"I always wonder why so many programmers act like we are all just drug dealers or gun runners, immorally making money from software we write. Do you think carpenters feel this way?" The problem isn't making money. It's the corrupt and user-hostile lengths proprietary developers go to in order secure that income. If carpenters were installing coin-operated locks in your house, refusing to let you inspect the building materials, suing you when you make unauthorized repairs, and secretly living in your basement to spy on you so you didn't break their rules, hopefully they'd feel a lot worse about how they made their living.

reedlaw 14y ago

I don't feel charging money for services or software is in any way immoral. But all other things being equal, I would rather work on a free, open source project than proprietary software. It just feels better to provide something useful to a wider audience at no cost than to produce something for a single client or a selective group of paying customers.

dinkumthinkum 14y ago
Well, maybe you say you don't think it is immoral but it does have some sort of bad connotation with it for you, perhaps quite a strong one? It's a strange thing, right. Without money most software wouldn't exist or have much of a reason to exist. But what I was getting at is in our world, the world of programmers, there is so much self-loathing about making money off of one's labor that doesn't exist in the vast majority of professions. Unless the whole world goes the way of Gene Rodenberry, how would these web apps be hosted and how would people have the actual hardware to run applications? I don't see anything wrong with one that 1) programs and 2) does not take a vow of poverty. Just my thoughts. :)

ksred 14y ago

I was aiming for it to be more of a meta, general viewpoint - "do you aim for happiness over cash in everything that you do, including software?" And I'm not saying it's immoral by any means, there is value in paid for services just like there is value in open source. Gun running is another issue :P

Vivtek 14y ago

Yeah, I've met carpenters who feel that way.

looser 14y ago

Just thinking about: Couldn't it be that software is heading a paradigm shift in the economic model? I would enjoy dealing with indie carpenters but still can't find them :)

svachalek 14y ago

If carpenters were building nice new houses and letting me move in with nothing more than a "thank you!", if I could walk into any restaurant or grocery store and just eat what I like, then MAN would I feel like a jerk for expecting to get paid for my software.

drcube 14y ago

"I always wonder why so many programmers act like we are all just drug dealers or gun runners, immorally making money from software we write. Do you think carpenters feel this way?" The problem isn't making money. It's the corrupt and user-hostile lengths proprietary developers go to in order secure that income. If carpenters were installing coin-operated locks in your house, refusing to let you inspect the building materials, suing you when you make unauthorized repairs, and secretly living in your basement to spy on you so you didn't break their rules, hopefully they'd feel a lot worse about how they made their living.