[enraged_camel]

When I do development in my spare time, I tend to gravitate towards paid software, since it tends to be higher quality and have better support.

However, my employer is extremely frugal and has very tight budgetary controls, so getting even the smallest expenses approved can be a huge hassle. So, perhaps ironically, I gravitate towards free products when doing professional development.

This is probably completely backwards, but it is what it is!

Anyway, I disagree with all the Paw bashing of course, but I think it is important for everyone to be aware of free alternatives - not necessarily because people feel "entitled" to free stuff, but that their circumstances may cause them to prefer not having to pay.

[Tempest1981]

I've had frugal employers before, and I've pulled out my credit card and bought software with my own money. Just like buying my own lunch, or books. Just seemed like the right thing to do.

[cloudjacker]

So you have to be lucky that

a) your colleagues will do the same so your team can use similar tools

b) you don't have to jump through hoops to install any software at all