Krzysztof Kowalczyk's everybody's evil with open source rant

Submitted by Roland on Sun, 2005-01-02 22:19

At work, we are trying to square the circle and help create a positive feedback loop in open source (specifically Drupal). I think we will do it but I am sure that it's not as easy as it seems.

From Google - we take it all, give nothing back..:

QUOTE

I'm picking on Google, but they are not alone. Amazon, yahoo, ebay, aol. Any large business that uses web as means of providing services and making revenues is enjoying enormous savings by using open source stack on their back end. And what do they contribute back? A good approximation of zero compared to benefits they reap.

Another irony: compared to this bunch Microsoft looks good, they are the only ones that did pay for the software they use on their back-end

The thing is: I actually believe that positive feedback loop in open source is possible. Except that it requires enlightement on the part of executives at all those companies. They should recognize that they should invest in improving in open source software that they use as their infrastructure. Not out of grattitude but because it makes good sense in the long term. It's the cheapest way for them to get software they use for building their services.

UNQUOTE

Comments

Richard (not verified)

Mon, 2005-01-03 00:01

Earlier in Krzysztof's rant, he says "Microsoft creates more open-source code than Google", which may or may not be true, except he points to Microsoft *employees* developing open source code. While their open source software may have been developed with the endorsement of their managers, the software does not have the Microsoft brand, so Microsoft the legal entity did not release the software, but just people who happened to work for Microsoft.

Also, there is no free-rider "problem" with open source, in fact, it's almost encouraged. Those who code software licensed under the GPL, for example, are either paid to do it for the companies and/or contractors they work for or do it because they love doing it. Developers are aware of and have no problem with the freedom 0 provision which means that the company can use it for any purpose whatsoever. They are also under no obligation (moral or legal) to release the modifications they've made to free software unless they redistribute it. Krzysztof at least argues (probably rightly) that it would be to their benefit to release some of the code and contribute back, they are not being "Evil" for "taking" and "give nothing back". Google is free to push the open source community to make better software, though open source developers are under no obligation to do what Google wants them to: the open source community is free to politely tell Google that if they want something in the software either file a ticket, contribute a patch, or download the source code and tinker with it themselves.

Out4Blood (not verified)

Tue, 2005-01-11 13:25

It's hard for me to digest the point that Google, et al "give nothing back." It sticks in my craw. For me, Google is an indispensible tool which I have used for free for many years now. Yahoo is my home page, and I a big fan (rabid customer) of both Amazon and eBay.

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