Sun criticizes popular open-source license

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The problem is...

The problem is that FOSS makes sense for large business type solutions, but not for smaller, boxed type software you find at your local software store. Why does the open source proponents always think software only comprises consultants, businesses that use in-house customized software, and IBM type setups as the whole software pie, yet completely ignoring the whole sector of software that makes up the smaller software products (think anything you find in the local software store or at NewEgg or whatever, inluding games etc). Why always the top-down view, instead of seeing the whole software industry?

How can anyone think it is GOOD to kill off those companies? And it's not a buggy-whip scenario. The buggy whip just wasn't needed anymore, while software will always be needed.

Instead what is happening is a cheapening of software that in reality is not cheap to develop at all. People only look at the final product and sees it as "free" because they can duplicate it in 7 seconds. But where did it come from?

I'm not particularly concerned for myself, as I have a good, steady job, but I am concerned to see how people can be so short-sighted and think it's good to damage the concept where someone feels a piece of software is actually WORTH the $50 they pay for it. No one likes to pay for anything, but we do it because we understand that there is a cost involved in getting it into my hands. I'd love to get a car for free, and hate paying, but I fully understand that there was a cost involved in creating it. But hey, software is free since I can just make a copy of it, right?

I don't think it is damage you will see short-term. It is more long-term damage. As software development is cheapened, the ability to get compensated for your work will become less and less, and software development will become a less-attractive career option. Which means less developers, less total man-hours spent developing new software with less incentive to out-do your competitors and an overall slowdown in software advancement. This will become a bigger problem as projects become more complex over time. Of course no one will really be able to measure this slowdown.

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Posted by: Qbt   Posted on: 04/06/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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