[rbanffy]

Is it really that hard to get people don't write open source to solve your problems? What state of mind makes people believe they are entitled to someone else's time?

When I write software, I'm solving my problems. When I write open-source software, I'm still solving my problems, but I find whatever I'm writing may be useful to someone else, so, feel free to use it and, perhaps, even join the effort to continue better solving our problems. I will not solve your problems for you.

What's wrong with these people?

[adekok]

> Is it really that hard to get people don't write open source to solve your problems?

Yes. There is a persistent set of well-intentioned but clueless people.

> What state of mind makes people believe they are entitled to someone else's time?

"I want the software to work. You wrote it, you need to fix it! It's your problem. What's wrong with you? Why won't your software work? I need it for a deadline! Please fix it now!"

I've been running an open source project for ~15 years, with many millions of running installations. The only solution I've found is to ignore these people. The "d" key comes in handy. Where that isn't possible, I ban/block them.

The level of cluelessness can be seen in the following typical exchange:

- user engages in anti-social activity

- I say "stop or you will be banned"

- user repeats the anti-social activity, and calls me names for "threatening" him.

These people don't even realize that annoying the mailing list administrator is unproductive. It's like their psychology is missing a reward/punishment feedback loop which normal people have.

[Osmose]

As someone who writes open source software to help solve other peoples' problems, all I can tell you is that it makes me happy to help other people. There's no logical reasoning behind it beyond that I feel good when I've helped someone else accomplish their goals.

Sure, you could analyze the cost and benefits of it, and maybe even find a logical reason as to why it makes me happy, but _I_ didn't. I just enjoy it! :D

[rbanffy]

That's the point - you do what you want because you enjoy it. I program because I like programming and I enjoy solving the problems people I like have. Solving a lack of enjoyment is solving a problem.

But I don't enjoy programming for people I don't like.

[crusso]

If you're doing it only to solve your own problems then why open source it?

Obviously, the motivation to help others, contribute to something as a community, show off your skills, etc. are drivers besides just solving your own problems. For some developers, solving their own problems has very little to do with why they work on open source projects.

[commentzorro]

Because it _may_ solve someone else's problem too. And someone else _may_ contribute something back that also solves one of my problems.

[rbanffy]

Contributing to a community or showing off my skills would also fall under "solving my problems". It's perfectly logical to assume I may want better communities and recognition and the lack of either to be problems I may be inclined to solve.

[crusso]

So your original post is meaningless since you decried solving other peoples' problems... but solving other peoples' problems could completely fall under the set of "solving your problems".

"Is anything we do truly altruistic?" is a fun question philosophically, but makes for really circular/meaningless HN comments.

[rbanffy]

I'm not solving someone else's problem unless it either is also my problem or solving it solves another problem I have.

In this case it's obvious adding the requested feature solves no problem of the maintainer.