Re: Open Source vs. Commercial

"Wayne Niddery [TeamB]" <wniddery@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
<42a22f33$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Captain Jake wrote:
> > produce FOSS are NOT available for other things. The time a
> > programmer uses to write FOSS can't then also be used for other
> > purposes.
>
> First, those programmers are not yours to decide for, they will use their
> time as *they* see fit. Second, if they are devoting some time to write free
> software, presumably they do something else to provide for their livelihood
> and are thus being productive in *that* area (or they are students, or
> retired, or independently wealthy). So their time was not free for other
> things *anyway* by *their* choice. The are not beasts of burden you can
> allocate to various jobs "needed by society" they are human beings with free
> will and the *right* to use that free will even if it is contrary to your
> perception of a "proper" allocation of resources.

You are confusing politics and economics. I'm not interested in denying
anybody their right to do what they want with their time. In fact, I'm not
addressing rights at all. I'm pointing out that "free" software is not free,
it does come at a cost. The time used to produce FOSS is time that is not
available for those individuals to use for something else. Furthermore, the
impact of free software on long-term innovation and salaries IS a negative
externality that makes this my business, your business, and the business of
everyone interested in making a living from writing software. That
externality is a cost that demonstrates that resources are NOT being
optimally allocated.

The fact that you like to entertain the myth that individuals are
self-contained microcosms can not undo the fact that this cost exists.

--
***Free Your Mind***

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