Zend seeks a sustainable open-source model

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Serious? From you???

OK - for once I'll go along with you. Consider the following:

Many (not all) open source programmers have an agenda which does not involve money. This does not mean they are not rewarded for what they do - it just means that the reward is not money. For some people that is very important.

For instance, there have been programmers who wanted to write their own programming language. There are others who wanted an expensive piece of software that they could not afford, but they had the ability to write that software. There are others who want to gain the admiration of their peers and associates and the act of creation is important and subsequent recognition is important. Many of these people, whilst clever, have no wish to monetize their idea because that is not what's important to them. 100 years ago, these people would have been scientists or mathematicians, a group for whom money has always been less important than peer recognition.

Other open source comes from companies and businesses collaborating to get things done. For instance, if you can do the support of an open source product, but lack the time or resources to do bug-fixing then open sourcing the code is a way to assure potential customers that if you go bust, they will at least have the source code for their system. For smaller companies attempting to get a foothold against a larger competitor that is a valuable marketing edge.

I guess the key here is that for open source companies, money may be important up to a point, but they still get some form of compensation in non-monetary ways. That may make no sense to YOU, but it works for them. Nobody is forcing them to do this.

I can assure you that from the point of view of some people I know taking this approach, if others can also use the code to generate their own success then to open source people that is another reason to be happy about how it works.

Collaboration, cooperation and mutual recognition of ability. Those are often what drives open source people and companies.

Posted by: bportlock   Posted on: 02/01/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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