On mySimon: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 7 of 86:
Next »
« Previous
Free Software
One thing Richard Stallman does not address in this article, and I'd love to hear comments on it, is why should software be free?

I know there's the whole issue of Freedom, but, freedom is a very intangable entity. Should I use Free Software just because it's free? What are the benefits of Free Software? (Not talking Open Source, which has it's difference)

What sort of oppression is Richard talking about? Someone, or some group, always controls software, period. Whether its a group of developers working at a commercial software company, or a group of developers who volunteer their time. Someone always holds the reigns.

Some things that I notice is that commercial Software tends to have more innovation in it. These companies pay people to perform R&D for new technologies. Not that this isn't done in Free software, but R&D isn't cheap. Interest Surveys, Focus groups all cost money, when done large scale. Commercial Software is also driven by people wanting to eat. AKA money. People, in a capitalist society, need money. A strong motivation to do good work, or at least, put out a product that people will buy. Free Software (again *not* open Source) is purely driven by idealism and ego. Neither one of which I feel confortable with when using Free Software (including GAIM and Gnu C++ compiler).

It's one thing to live in a Star trek society where people don't need money, we all live in Racial harmony, and people program computers for free, just because they want to (from an Earlier Stallman Essay). But it is an entirely different thing to build an organization whose purpose is to bankrupt commercial software organizations.

I like to code. It's great. But I like to get paid for it as well....

-DB in 2004
Posted by: Delaware Boy   Posted on: 01/06/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

Now another hundred years of FREE software!!!  GRindinAxTaRupy | 01/06/04
right on!  dg mh | 01/06/04
Third motivation...money?  Nigel Johnstone | 01/06/04
The commentary isn't about making money.  Anton Philidor | 01/06/04
Service  voska | 01/07/04
Other Motivations  virtualcharlie | 01/08/04
Free Software  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Not really...  Patrick Jones | 01/06/04
true, true, but..  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
I think...  Patrick Jones | 01/06/04
... but it's not wrong for him to try  John L. Ries | 01/07/04
You can still get paid...  shawkins | 01/06/04
here's two  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
I must have missed...  rapson | 01/07/04
The problem is...  John L. Ries | 01/07/04
Why should Microsoft bow down ... ?  coffeenite | 01/09/04
Freedom is always good.  DonnieBoy | 01/07/04
So what if...  rapson | 01/06/04
Laughable...  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Pompous....  shawkins | 01/06/04
Atheism is a belief..  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Atheism is a belief  shawkins | 01/06/04
Exactly...  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Lets be realistic  RedHat9User | 01/06/04
His moral code come from his work at MIT  voska | 01/07/04
Atheists can argue morality  RedHat9User | 01/06/04
Again..  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Framework?  NemesisNL | 01/08/04
Muslim's can point to the Koran. Christian's point to the Bible  NoB$ | 01/06/04
I'm pointing to your stupid use of apostrophes.  hognoxious | 01/11/04
Um...  Patrick Jones | 01/06/04
Morality and reason  Mr_Shifty | 01/06/04
Why?  voska | 01/07/04
Social Constructivism  rapson | 01/07/04
You describe society perfectly  voska | 01/07/04
It is saying that there is no absolute right or wrong  NemesisNL | 01/08/04
When will the inquisition begin?  Jill1774 | 01/06/04
"Free Software"  fdcampbell | 01/09/04
Users cannot be free while using a non-free program.  guitar player | 01/06/04
From Stallman's point of view, you are..  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Free doesn't mean without compensation...  Jose Jimenez | 01/06/04
better check the dictionary!  dg mh | 01/06/04
Better take your own advice  Jose Jimenez | 01/06/04
Why demand only free software?  dg mh | 01/06/04
My guess is ego...  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Not only software  voska | 01/07/04
Use what you want  FilledOut | 01/06/04
Another Crack Smoker  Zuel | 01/06/04
Home Depot would be the oppressor then  FilledOut | 01/06/04
bad anology  JWatson77 | 01/07/04
You're right,, my bad  FilledOut | 01/09/04
Taking a line from Axe_Grinder: Why all the whining?  Jack-Booted EULA | 01/06/04
Right on...  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Completely agree  RedHat9User | 01/06/04
On the other hand...  Jack-Booted EULA | 01/06/04
Absolutely  RedHat9User | 01/06/04
Programming is skilled work ...  Anton Philidor | 01/06/04
Huh,  Patrick Jones | 01/06/04
The principle is simple.  Anton Philidor | 01/06/04
Not THAT simple  shawkins | 01/07/04
Bait and switch  Anton Philidor | 01/07/04
So?  azurensis | 01/07/04
Principles and people  Anton Philidor | 01/07/04
By the same logic...  John L. Ries | 01/07/04
Outsourcing is also efficient  rapson | 01/07/04
With open source, once something is written, everyone can gain the benefits  hognoxious | 01/11/04
Two economic systems at war here...  quietLee | 01/09/04
Since you support free enterprise...  John L. Ries | 01/11/04
government intervention  canibal-in-denial | 01/12/04
Re: government intervention  John L. Ries | 01/12/04
Against my better judgement...  John L. Ries | 01/12/04
Get Rayovac  canibal-in-denial | 01/12/04
personal insults?  canibal-in-denial | 01/12/04
Yes, and programers get paid for most free software.  DonnieBoy | 01/07/04
Of course it is...  John L. Ries | 01/07/04
flawed argument  NemesisNL | 01/08/04
Geez  mikeeemike | 01/06/04
right  JWatson77 | 01/07/04
Win XP costs around 175.00, Red Hat Linux in a store costs about 70.00  NemesisNL | 01/08/04
I support OSS but Stallman is partially wrong  Tim Patterson | 01/07/04
Listen when he talks of freedom  DonnieBoy | 01/07/04
Thank You, RMS  John L. Ries | 01/07/04
Copy Right?  jkasey | 01/08/04
Nix Free - Promote Open Source Software  shanedr | 01/09/04
Mr.Stallman hypocrisy  Ardian Daka | 01/09/04
how do you?  rwgreene | 01/26/04

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

advertisement
advertisement

Meet Doc