Random Rant
I support the OpenSource movement. I think its a great ideal with good intentions and I’d like to see more businesses include OS projects in their activities – either use them, contribute to them, supply them or support them. As a developer I’d love more time to contribute to OS projects – its a way to use my skill to give to the community.
But I am well over of the elitist whiners I seem to keep hearing lately. I’m talking about the developers who are in commercial closed-source (or source-provided) development houses, whinging about how much they wish their company and others (read: the entire world) would just “go open source”.
Well, here’s a dose of reality guys. The business was around before you. It is not owned or run by you. You might not even have much of an interest in the actual product itself. If you haven’t managed to convince your managers to “go open source” then shut up. Seriously.
Either go and work for a company that suits your values, or start your own company, or go on the dole and contribute to OS all day long (so you can convince yourself that you really aren’t bludging off the taxpayer). Just quit bitching while you are earning damn good money from closed-source applications and go enjoy your OS ideals and self satisfaction.
If you go and find a way to supply an equivalent open source product and make a living, you can come back and rub my nose in it. I might even make a contribution. But at least I’d have had some peace while you are working.
Maybe I’m being unreasonable – I do have a headache and am tired from making travel plans and longer commutes to work. All I know is that right now I am sick of the whinging. Show me action, not words.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:17 am
There’s a very subtle point you haven’t taken into consideration:
In this case, the “open source elitists” are not actually demanding the software they use be open source; they are simply asking that it be well written software.
The only relation of this to open source software itself is that open source software tends to be better than the closed source variety. This is because these people are doing the things that they love; creating software which is more often than not for their own consumption.
Developers aren’t being paid danger money for having to develop with/on/for insane software. In fact, I don’t know that anyone paid to use computers is. I hypothesis, in fact, that the developers and professional computer-users using this software (is there a direct correlation between the price of software and its insanity?) will have less profit-margin to draw from, given the extravagant prices paid to the insane software shops.
It’s worth noting too, that there are some shining beacons of quality closed source software out there: Opera, a lot of Google‘s offerings and Beyond Compare all come to mind. However these are outliers in the closed-source world, and that is the real problem here.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Yep. Amos Nicola-Roxon’s my socks off!
February 6th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Amos: let me respond in point form…
* no, I was specifically ranting about people who are elitist open source / anti-closed source. I support all whinging about poor quality software regardless of whether the source is open or closed.
* I think its a bit dramatic to claim that most open source software is better quality. I have used many OS products that have a long way to go, and used many commercial products that obviously went through rigorous QA before release. I think there is a wide range in each area, and you’re right in that OS projects that have a large set of contributors and a good core of experienced long-term contributors is likely to provide a pretty solid product
Funny that you two both thought this was directed at Amos. lolpants
February 6th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Yes, I was a bit more sweeping than I ought to have been.
I should probably have said that for the most part, the software I use that’s open source is better than the software that I use that’s closed source. But this is a bit jaded too because some closed-source applications I use at work, I have no desire or need to use an equivalent at home. (Word processing software, for example – I don’t know if I even have OpenOffice installed?)