Toolkit

Story: Twenty years of free software: What now?

• 
• 

In response to a previous poster:

"Where should this goal of "freedom" end?
I'm employed by a major insurer in developing leading edge e-commerce systems which will give us competitive advantage.
Is Mr Stallman saying that we should "free" this code and give it to our competitors?" "

The main ideea behind the free-sofware philosophy is the sharing of your code. As you probably know, to develop a complicated software system (ERP for example) you must divide it in modules so you can control better it. Now, just think that you can use many of these modules, that are already written (GPL licensed). You are not forced to reinvent the wheel. In this way your system can be developed quickly.
Now you will sell your program not as a product, but as a service. Your customers will pay you a regular fee for mentenance for example (or improvements). Ok, since your code is freely available in public domain, your competitors may get it, may sell it, but don't forget that any improvements will be also available for you, so in this way you can later can sell a better product.
There are places for everybody...in the market. You will gain advantages through marketing. If you are a better seller..you will be paid as well.
Take a look at RedHat or Caldera. They are earning money in this way, with this business
model.

"[...] I'm also an avid games player who not only buys games regularly, but also pays a monthly subscription to a paid-for online game. Without myself and others paying for those games, they would simply not be available. [...]"

Ok, so do I :).
To pay for a subscription for an online-gaime doesn't mean that that game it is not free (free like in freedom). Since the sources are available and licensed under GPL. GPL does not mention anything about economical part. You talk about hardware and technical support needs of these companies. Sure, the company is right in asking money for playing online that game. But, they must make public the source code behind their system. And this is not a bad thing. They will continue to ear money as well.

Will programmers starve?
No, definitely, they will not. (just my two cents).
In addition take a look at this link, and I hope that all of you will think different in the future:
[http://www.opensource.org/advocacy/jobs.php]

And don't forget. This is our world, nobody can control it, not either giants like M$. They are not have the right to.

Best regards from Romania.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Full Talkback thread