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"There are tons and tons of opensource software out there thriving, and without any type of backer." That's pretty short sighted as well. I don't want to inves

"There are tons and tons of opensource software out there thriving, and without any type of backer." That's pretty short sighted as well. I don't want to invest my heart and soul into something only for it to disappear in a few years like so many have. In the long term, a lot of that software will be gone. Looking back at all the open sourced software I used as a teen most of it has decayed. Little by little over the years I'd receive an automated email from the founder who "built it out of love" saying he needs to "move on now, because I have a wife and kid on the way and a full time job". Am I the one being insulting? Or are these creators who suffocate their own creations the ones who are insulting open source?

axaxs 13y ago
I can see where you're coming from, truthfully. I have went through that cycle myself. Sometime in your late 20s-early 30s you just get too busy with life for things you used to love. I think the main problem is that, regardless of what anyone thinks, source code is really hard to read. I mean, line by line, it's very simple. It's the logic, the relations, etc. that make it so as I'm sure you've experienced. So, in most cases, the maintainer is the only one who truly understands the entire project. So, when he/she gives up on it, it dies. But remember, it's open source so anyone willing could always take the reigns! Contributing to open source doesn't have to be about pouring your heart into it, nor wasting your time. Bug fixes or improved algorithms are always a good start. But remember, it's open source - you're free to fork a project, dead or alive, and make it your own, to monetize it. The only drawback being that it remains open source, so someone else could just turn and do the same to you. I hope I don't come off too much like a zealot. Open source is important to me because it's how I learned, and how I in turn made a good living for myself. So I feel compelled to give back, to perhaps help others one day as they've done me. But I do understand it's easier for me - someone gainfully employed, than someone not. In other circumstances, I'd probably value my time a bit more.

axaxs 13y ago

I can see where you're coming from, truthfully. I have went through that cycle myself. Sometime in your late 20s-early 30s you just get too busy with life for things you used to love. I think the main problem is that, regardless of what anyone thinks, source code is really hard to read. I mean, line by line, it's very simple. It's the logic, the relations, etc. that make it so as I'm sure you've experienced. So, in most cases, the maintainer is the only one who truly understands the entire project. So, when he/she gives up on it, it dies. But remember, it's open source so anyone willing could always take the reigns! Contributing to open source doesn't have to be about pouring your heart into it, nor wasting your time. Bug fixes or improved algorithms are always a good start. But remember, it's open source - you're free to fork a project, dead or alive, and make it your own, to monetize it. The only drawback being that it remains open source, so someone else could just turn and do the same to you. I hope I don't come off too much like a zealot. Open source is important to me because it's how I learned, and how I in turn made a good living for myself. So I feel compelled to give back, to perhaps help others one day as they've done me. But I do understand it's easier for me - someone gainfully employed, than someone not. In other circumstances, I'd probably value my time a bit more.