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by nathan_long
4960 days ago
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>> "open source only really works if everybody is contributing for their own selfish reasons." One interpretation of this statement is that, if I'm trying to contribute altruistically by solving a problem I don't personally have, it may be that nobody has that problem, or it may be that my solution doesn't help those who do. Whereas if I solve a problem I have in a way that satisfies me, there's at least one data point to say that it's a good solution, and it's likely that others will benefit. The common phrase for this is "scratch your own itch." |
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Open software is often narrow in scope, tied to some preconceived notion of how its going to be used, and spotty in implementation. E.g. Gimp, which is useful for some but useless to me - I have GB of layered images that won't import into GIMP except as flattened bitmaps - I'll need to continue editing my layers in future. I could write my own image importer for GIMP, but hey! paying for a PS license is cheaper and faster.
Other examples: file format interpreting libraries. I've used them lots. Each time I have to untangle the actual code that interprets formats, from the cruft around it that assumes I'm going to run a command-line script, or link with a certain runtime, or have a dialog-based interface, or whatever was the itch somebody scratched when they created the code.
If its in nobodies best interest to separate the actual IP from the scaffolding that surrounds it, then Open Source is delegated to hobby projects by people with time to burn.