Lately, I’ve been reading and commenting on a post by Bryan of the Linux Action Show podcast titled “Why 100% Free Software Destroys Linux”. And while the title of the post is definitely (and purposely) inflammatory, I think it’s an interesting discussion. Just so you know where I’m coming from, although I’m a huge fan and user of Free (as in speech) software, I think I’m more of a proponent of its inevitability. But reading those comments brings up a point in my mind that I don’t hear often: Do you ever feel guilty using Free Software?
Now I have made donations in the past to free software projects, but by no means anything that would even begin to compensate the use I get out of them. And I’ll be the first to admit that if I were graded on how much money I gave to the free projects that I use, I’d fail with flying colours. And maybe I’m naive or just trying to make myself feel better about it, but I think the vast majority of free software users are probably just like me.
But the question is, should I feel guilty about using Free Software and not directly compensating those who create it? I don’t think there is anything in the GPL compelling me to do so (like just about everything else in this world I could be wrong about that), and if the people developing free software really wanted money in exchange for the result of their service, wouldn’t they take their toys and go elsewhere?
I just think it’s an interesting discussion that I don’t hear a lot about in the circles I run in.
I’m not even going to touch Bryan’s article other then to say that he is following a very old school of thought in a very new culture.
As for direct compensation for the projects I use, I look at it this way. I’m not a rich person. In fact I scrape by. I do however want to support projects, so I find other ways to contribute to the community. I know you do the same. Everyone has their talents, and if you use them to promote floss, then you are doing your part. Someday, I do hope that I have some extra cash I can throw at projects. I do not feel guilty now though, because I know I’m doing what I can to contribute to the community, and help floss.
You know along those same lines, I recently updated an Adobe application and didn’t feel they charged me as much as it was worth. Now I can’t figure how to get that extra money to them…NOT!
I do usually donate to projects or developers whose work I enjoy…but I don’t feel guilty. They decide if it’s going to be open and free or not.
No, I do not feel guilty. Using Open Source software gives me inspiration to create and release my own Open Source software and thus the tradition is carried on.
I share your mixed feelings.
I tried to say why… but couldn’t do so eloquently. I may try again later!
Two matters here.
First, what is the flip side of non-free software? Should we consider it? What is the whole point of some people fighting and struggling every day to make certain that every component of our software stack remains Free with a capital F? What sacrifices do they make and are they of value?
Why bother with any of this if we are going to slide right back into the land of proprietary and closed source systems and end up a half baked WindowsXP or OSX?
A single piece of proprietary and closed software destroys the cogs of the machine.
We in Linux land are probably blissful that we have Flash now! Yay! But what about the next great kernel that evolves after Linux? What about OpenBSD? What about FreeBSD? What about OpenSolaris? Multiply those platforms by architectures now. How about your pocket device? What about the xxx device that hasn’t come out yet? Who is going to maintain it and if so, what about the security implications of _ONE_ company managing _ALL_ of that?
How much have the almost spoiled believers of Linux leveraged their mass toward the greater good?
Secondly, I’d suggest there are far more things to invest with than money.
Ask Ubuntu about the value of $mindshare.00. Ask a small project about the value of $momentum.00. Ask a consumer about the value of $documentation.00 or $knowledge.00.
Ask a blogger about the commerce of $readers.00.
Wonderful blog, as always…
I do not ordinarily feel guilty. Should I feel guilty about learning from your screencasts how to use blender to edit videos? Part of the open source/free software “philosophy” is (I think) compensating by passing it on. You use free software that others have freely shared and then freely share your knowledge about how to do something with others. We all contribute a bit differently. For me, I help faculty at work set up servers and clients (not part of my job) using Linux because I think Linux is cool and I think more people should use it. And “Thanks, I couldn’t have done that on my own” is nice compensation for me.
There are some projects that “prominently ask” for monetary contributions “in order to be able to keep contributing”. In that case, if I am a regular user of that software, and I haven’t contributed, I do experience a little guilt. However, if I find myself unwilling to shell out a few bucks, I usually drift away from that software anyway (I can think of one recently where that has happened).
Anyway, I’m looking forward to delving into your second blender screencast, but I wanted to pause here first and comment.