Comments on: So, how could programmers make a living?

By: Mike Linksvayer

Mike Linksvayer — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:41:35 +0000

I agree that the need for maintenance facilitates programmers getting paid, regardless of license. I made this point a bunch in a recent talk, mostly as a way of contrasting software and cultural production, see http://www.slideshare.net/mlinksva/lugradio-live-usa-2008-creative-commons and it is implicit in the last paragraph of this post.

However, that’s a small part of how and why open source works overall.

By: Kevembuangga

Kevembuangga — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:20:54 +0000

I don’t really see how it explains why open source works

Open source works because most of the value is in the daily working and reworking of the code and the licensing is just an added scam.
Therefore one can make a living without caring much about licensing.

By: Mike Linksvayer

Mike Linksvayer — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:14:15 +0000

Kevembuangga,

Interesting article, but I don’t really see how it explains why open source works.

Lucas,

Re *should*, indeed.

By: Lucas

Lucas — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:16:44 +0000

And there’s always the question of why *should* programmers make a living at it, just like with musicians.

Kai, I love your point. Though I would say that it’s innovation and product design which age more than code.

By: Kevembuangga

Kevembuangga — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:18:22 +0000

Stallman ideas about money have always been totally out of whack.
Fortunately Open Source still works because…
“Software is merely a Performance Art”
http://www.edge.org/q2008/q08_16.html#krause