__/ [johny_cage] on Sunday 16 October 2005 18:40 \__
> I have heard that:
> 1. everything that is called software should be for free
> 2. those who make free software, as opened sources, not free in price,
> will make money on technical help
>
> There are programmers, they do their job, make software, but they have
> no idea how to live without getting money for their work. So they
> decided to get money only for technical help, support. That sounds very
> well. We have a company, they use programmer's software, and they need
> help. So they call programmers. They help them, and all is fine. Next
> time our company, what help. They decide not to call to programmer, but
> employ person who know how to switch on/off light bubble (programmer's
> software). So that is much cheaper to this company. Programmer is
> waiting for calls, with no result. He has nothing to eat. He is a
> shadow of a man. Give someone manual, and all idea of getting help is
> worthless.
> Software for free - ok. But not all software. When I asked what should
> my "programmer" do? I have heard that he may should go to some closed
> source company. They have to let him make money to live like a human.
>
> What do you think about it?
Interesting take. It is also possible to produce code and various projects
that are not profit-making and at the same time working for another (even
closed-source) company supporting /their/ projects. The skills you acquire
as an Open Source programmer are often very valuable, if not transferr-
able, to the closed-source domain.
Working and living on your own right (i.e. as a freelancer) is a hard
task. You are lucky if you are able to make ends meet based on just your
own projects, which give you 100% freedom. Come to grips with the fact
that you will have to comply with the desire and aims of somebody else's
company. In you free time, however, you will have the opportunity to
express yourself by producing your own software. Whether you publish your
own software under the GPL or attempt to sell it is a different matter.
The matter of fact is that your projects is more likely to get exposure,
be extended or be re-used if it is made Open Source.
Roy
--
Roy S. Schestowitz | Useless fact: ~70% of organisms are bacteria
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