Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by newen 2895 days ago
This idea that are large and influential project like Python is just the same as a hobby project I put on github and do in my spare time is ridculous. I am pretty sure most of the core contributors of Python are doing it as part of their 9-5 job.

Then there is the implication that because they are doing it for pleasure, they don't owe anything to anyone. It's ridculous. This software affects millions of people and it's not a dumb hobby project.
3 comments
xj9 2894 days ago
actually, by using Python you explicitly agree that PSF doesn't owe you anything :)

https://github.com/python/cpython/blob/master/LICENSE

4. PSF is making Python available to Licensee on an "AS IS" basis. PSF MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, PSF MAKES NO AND DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.

5. PSF SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON, OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.

link
newen 2894 days ago
I'm talking about social responsibilities. Not about legal liabilities.

If there is not implied social responsibility that PSF keeps python running, then no one will be using it.

link
megaman22 2894 days ago
Why? As long as python.exe runs code, people will use it. And there's too much money invested in it for people that have done so to let it just die.
link
newen 2894 days ago
Because PSF says they will support Python? What happens when there is a bug? You fork Python? PSF gets 3 million in revenue per year. Where do you think the money goes? Python is not a hobby project.
link
msla 2895 days ago
> Then there is the implication that because they are doing it for pleasure, they don't owe anything to anyone. It's ridculous. This software affects millions of people and it's not a dumb hobby project.

... no more ridiculous than the idea that software which millions of people depend on should be a commercial product, or a government project, and beholden to the politics of CEOs and/or government bureaucrats.

link
whyever 2894 days ago
If it is part of their day job, the responsibility is towards their employer, not their users.

The millions of users are usually providing nothing in return for the software, I don't see how that entitles them to anything. In fact, I think it is the user's responsibility to make sure the software is appropriate for their use.

link