[anondon]

The term "free software" is used rather ambiguously in the article. The free software that is referred to in the article is free as in beer. The more commonly used meaning of the word (among hackers) implies free as in freedom. If you want to learn more refer here https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html

[nrb]

It seems like the author is indeed referring to Free Software, but then makes a comparison to free-as-in-beer web services.

[gregmac]

I disagree: it seems like the author is completely unaware of the "free-as-in-freedom" definition, and all usages of "free software" refer to free-as-in-beer web services.

[wiredfool]

I'd not take any bet that maciej is unaware of any major tech movement.

Look in the third paragraph from the end:

> I love free software and could not have built my site without it. But free web services are not like free software. If your free software project suddenly gets popular, you gain resources: testers, developers and people willing to pitch in. If your free website takes off, you lose resources. Your time is spent firefighting and your money all goes to the nice people at Linode.

[kiba]

Can we live in a world where we get paid for writing free software?

[rini17]

Yes we do. You can double-license, you can offer consultancy services, there are options.

[revelation]

The article doesn't even talk about software at all, services is what it means.