Comments on: Random Rant http://www.palegoldenrod.com/2008/02/06/random-rant/ Carly Lyddiard on the internets Fri, 29 Oct 2010 03:57:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Amos Robinson http://www.palegoldenrod.com/2008/02/06/random-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Amos Robinson Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:17:00 +0000 #comment-36 <p>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.</p> <p>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 <em>own</em> consumption.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>It's worth noting too, that there are some shining beacons of quality closed source software out there: <a href="http://www.opera.com">Opera</a>, a lot of <a href="http://www.google.com">Google</a>'s offerings and <a href="http://www.scootersoftware.com/">Beyond Compare</a> all come to mind. However these are outliers in the closed-source world, and <em>that</em> is the real problem here.</p> 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.

]]> By: Matt Stow http://www.palegoldenrod.com/2008/02/06/random-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Matt Stow Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:17:00 +0000 #comment-37 Yep. Amos Nicola-Roxon's my socks off! Yep. Amos Nicola-Roxon’s my socks off!

]]> By: Carly Lyddiard http://www.palegoldenrod.com/2008/02/06/random-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Carly Lyddiard Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:17:00 +0000 #comment-38 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 ;-) 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 ;-)

]]> By: Amos Robinson http://www.palegoldenrod.com/2008/02/06/random-rant/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Amos Robinson Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:17:00 +0000 #comment-39 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?) 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?)

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