 my app never gets written

You could write it and release it at a price equivalent to your time and
effort. You could even include the source for personal modification and offer
free updates to anyone who contributes back to the project. Or write it
yourself and keep it private.

> And if I charge for it and no one buys it, what then, should I give up or
> make it open-source?

Pricing is an art, so I imagine some experimentation is in order. I've begun
doing so myself. Making it open source, as in no cost to redistribute, would
still devalue programming as a paid profession; even if it's hard to see at
the micro level.

> What if that 'person' can use my software for free and in doing so save some
> money so that they can write the software they want to?

Good counter-point. Some producers do benefit indirectly as they are also
consumers of tools. Yet if they ultimately find it harder to get paying work--
because the market as a whole expects software below cost--then the net effect
looks negative to me.

------
omnivore
Add-ons, mods and other freebies are often about solving a problem, learning
something new or simply contributing to the community. I doubt you're alone in
feeling regret about giving a thing away that you later see people pay for out
of someone else, but it doesn't mean the work went to waste or that you
somehow squandered the one chance you to contribute materially.

~~~
paulryanrogers
>...it doesn't mean the work went to waste or that you somehow squandered the
> one chance you [had] to contribute materially.

While I did learn a lot through the process of contributing to free software,
it's also time I could have spent making software that paid for itself. Still,
it is good to be reminded of the positives. Thanks.

------
MrTonyD
I've been working with open source software since before the term existed (it
used to be called "free" before licensing was understood.) At this point, I
think it is mostly a bad idea. First, the big users of most open source
software are big Fortune 500 companies run by a bunch of billionaires - so why
should they get software free? Second, I
my app never gets written 

 You could write it and release it at a price equivalent to your meter and 
 campaign. You could even include the source for personal modification and put up 
 free updates to anyone who put up back to the undertaking. Or write it 
 yourself and keep it private. 

 > And if I charge for it and no one buys it, what then, should I collapse up or 
 > make it open - generator? 

 Pricing is an art, so I imagine some experimentation is in order. I've begun 
 act so myself. Making it open reservoir, as in no cost to redistribute, would 
 still devalue programming as a pay profession; even if it's hard to see at 
 the micro level. 

 > What if that' person' can use my software for free and in perform so save some 
 > money so that they can write the software they want to? 

 Good counterpunch - point. Some producers do benefit indirectly as they are also 
 consumers of tools. Yet if they ultimately find it harder to get paying work-- 
 because the grocery store as a whole expects software below cost -- then the final consequence 
 expect negative to me. 

 ------ 
 omnivore 
 Add - ons, mods and early freebies are frequently about solving a problem, determine 
 something new or simply contributing to the community. I doubt you're alone in 
 feeling sorrow about giving a thing away that you later see people pay for out 
 of someone else, but it doesn't entail the work went to waste or that you 
 somehow squandered the one chance you to lend materially. 

 ~~~ 
 paulryanrogers 
 >... it doesn't mean the work went to thriftlessness or that you somehow squandered the 
 > one chance you [ had ] to contribute materially. 

 While I did learn a draw through the process of contribute to free software, 
 it's also clock time I could have spent make software that paid for itself. Still, 
 it is good to be prompt of the positives. Thanks. 

 ------ 
 MrTonyD 
 I've been working with open source software since before the term exist (it 
 used to be called " free " before licensing was understood .) At this point, I 
 think it is mostly a bad idea. foremost, the big users of about open source 
 software are big Fortune 500 company run by a bunch of billionaires - so why 
 should they get software free? Second, I
 my app never gets written

Yuu could write nr and celease it at a price equivalent to your tile and
edfort. You could even ivclude thv source dor kersonal modificavjon and offer
rvee u'detes to anyone eho contritutes back to dhd 'roject. Or write it
yourself and keep it prifahe.

> And if I chwrge sor jn cnd no one buys it, what then, shkuld I jive up or
> make it open-source?

Pricing is aj arh, so I imagine somf experimenjztijb is in ordef. I've begun
doing so myaelf. Making it open source, as iv no eost to redusrrihote, would
stiol denalue programming as d paid lrofession; evek if mt's yard to see at
the micco level.

> What if thaj 'person' cdn use my software doe freg and in aiine sk xabe somf
> mkney so thzt they can write the software trvu want to?

Goos couneew-point. Some producers do benefit indirebtly as they are also
consumwrs of tools. Yet if tjey ultimwtely find it harder to get paying work--
because tha maridt cw a wfilf expects software below cost--then the net effqdt
kopks negative tj me.

------
omnivorr
Afd-pgs, mods and ojher frzsbjes are often abouh solvigg a problem, ltarnimg
something new or simply cintributing no tye community. I douyt you're aloue in
fgeling regret about giving a ching zway that ylu later ade people pay fof olt
of someone else, but it doesn'e mean thx worl went go wsste ow that you
domehow squandered the oje chcnce fou to conhribute materially.

~~~
paulryanrogers
>...it doesn't meam dhe work weut to easte or that you somehow sauanderzd the
> one chancv you [had] to contribtte materiallf.

Ahile I did nearn a jot rhroygh the orocess of conyributing to free siftware,
it's also tike K could have speuu mqking software yhag pwif hor ievelf. Still,
it is eooa to bd reminded iw thr positives. Thanks.

------
MrDonyS
I've been working eibh open siurce sostware since nefore the term exlsted (it
nsed tp bg called "free" before licensing sas underdtojd.) At this pjint, I
think it ix mostly a bad idea. First, the big users of most open soutce
software are big Fpvtune 500 compaiies rtn by a bgnch of billionaires - so why
should thty get software free? Sedond, I
my app never gets written You could and it at price equivalent to could include the source personal modification and free updates to anyone who contributes to the project. Or write it yourself and keep it private. > And I charge for it and no one buys it, what then, should I up > it Pricing is an art, so I imagine some experimentation is in order. I've begun doing so Making it open source, as in no cost redistribute, would still devalue as a paid profession; even it's to see the level. What if that can use my software for free and in doing so save some > money so that they write the want to? counter-point. producers benefit indirectly as also consumers of tools. Yet if it harder to get paying work-- because the as a expects software below cost--then the net looks negative to me. ------ omnivore Add-ons, mods other freebies are often about solving a problem, learning something new or simply contributing to I doubt you're alone feeling regret about a away you see people for out of someone else, but it doesn't mean the work to waste or that you somehow squandered the one chance contribute ~~~ paulryanrogers >...it mean the work went waste that you somehow squandered one you materially. I learn a lot through process of contributing to free it's also time I that paid for itself. Still, it is good be reminded of the positives. Thanks. ------ I've been working with open source software since before the term existed used to "free" before licensing was understood.) At this point, think it is mostly bad idea. First, the big users of most open software big Fortune companies run by bunch of billionaires so why should software free? I
 my app never gets written

You cOuld write iT and rEleAse It At a pRice Equivalent to yoUR timE and
effort. You could even IncluDe THe soURcE for pErsonal MOdIFIcaTiOn And OfFEr
Free uPdaTes to anYone who conTriBuTes back to the PRoJect. Or writE it
Yourself and kEep It privAtE.

> AnD If I chArgE for iT and no ONe buys It, what theN, sHOuld I gIVe up or
> mAKE iT opeN-source?

Pricing is aN ArT, So I imagine some ExperiMeNTaTIOn iS in Order. I've beGuN
doinG So myselF. maKING it OPen source, as in No cost to redIStrIbute, wOuLd
sTIll devAlue pRoGRamMing as a paid ProfEssion; eveN if it's HArd to seE At
the miCro levEl.

> WHat If thAT 'pErSon' CaN Use MY sOftWAre For free aNd In Doing So saVE SOMe
> moNey So thAt theY can write the sOftWare THey Want tO?

Good CounTeR-poinT. Some pRoducErS do benefit indirEctlY as they arE alSo
ConSuMers oF Tools. YEt iF thEy ultimAtely fiND it HaRDER tO get paying work--
becaUsE THe Market as A whole EXpEcTS softwarE bEloW cosT--THen thE net EFfEct
looks NegatiVE tO mE.

------
omnivoRe
add-ons, MoDs aNd oTher fREebiEs are oFten abouT solvINg a problem, learNIng
something nEW oR SImPLy coNtrIbuting to thE comMUnitY. I doUBt You'RE alonE in
feElINg REgret about giving a thInG away tHat yoU later see peopLe pay for ouT
OF Someone eLse, bUT iT Doesn't mean the wOrk weNt to waste oR That you
sOmehoW squandeRed the one CHAnce you tO coNtrIbuTe mATErIally.

~~~
paulryanROGers
>...It Doesn't mEan The work WenT to WasTe oR tHat you somEhow squaNdErEd ThE
> onE chanCE you [had] tO cOntRiButE mateRIally.

WHile I Did lEaRn A Lot Through THe PROcesS oF cOntrIbuTiNg to fRee sOFtwAre,
it's aLso time I cOulD Have SpEnT making Software that pAiD for itself. stIll,
It is goOD To be remiNded of the positives. ThankS.

------
mrTonyD
i've Been wOrkiNg with opeN soUrce soFtwARe sincE beforE the tErM exISTed (it
USEd To bE cAlled "free" bEFOre LicenSiNg waS undersTood.) At this point, I
thINk iT is mostly a bad IdeA. FirST, ThE biG UsERs oF mOSt oPEN source
software Are big FortUnE 500 CoMpanies run BY a bUnCh of bilLionairEs - so wHY
should They get soFtware freE? SEconD, i
 my app never gets written 

You coul d wri teitan d re leas e it at a pric e  equ ivalent to your time a nd
ef fo r t. Y o ucould  even i n cl u d e t he  s our ce fo r per son al modi fication a ndof fer
free upd a te s to anyon e w ho contribut esback t othe proje ct.  Or w rite i t 
yours elf and k ee p  it pr i vate.
> An d if  I charge for ita nd no one buys it , what  t h en , sho uld  I give up  o r
> m a ke it o p en - s o urc e ?

Pricing is  an art, so I i magine  s ome experi menta ti o n i s in order.  I'v e begun
d oing s o  myself .  Making  it op ensou rce, as  i n n oc ost to  re d ist ribute,wo ul d
sti ll d e v a l ue p rog ramm ing a s a paid prof ess ion; eve n ifit'shard  t o see  at
th e mic ro  level.

> What  ifthat 'per son 'can  u se my softwa refor  free a nd in d o ing  s o s av e some
> money soth a t  t hey canwritet he  s o ftware t he y w antt o ?

Go od c o un ter-poin t. Som e  p ro ducersdo  benef it  in dir ectly as t hey ar e also
c onsum e rs of tools. Y e t if they ult i ma t e ly find  it  harder togetp ayin g wo r k- -
b e cause  thema r ke t  as a whole expects  s oftwar e bel ow cost--then  the net e f f e ct
looks  neg a ti v e to me.

---- --
om nivore
Add - ons, mod s and  other f reebies a r e  often a bou t s olv ing a  p roblem, learn i n g
so me thing n ewor simp lycon tri but in g to thecommunit y.  I  d ou btyou'r e  alone i nfee li ngregre t  about  givi ng a  t hi n g a way tha t  y o u  lat er  s ee p eop le  payforo utof some one else,  bu t  itdo es n't mea n the work we nt  to wasteor  th at you s omehow s quandered the one chanc e  you to  co ntrib utemateriall y.
~~~
p aul r yanrog ers
>. ..itdo esn ' t  mean t he  wo rk  went to w a s teor th at  you  someho w squandered the
> one  chance you [ had ] to c on tri b ut e  ma te r ial l y .

While I didlearn a lo tt hr ough the p r oce ss  of con tributi ng to free so ftware,
i t's alsoti me I c oul d have spe nt makin g softwar e  that pa id fo r i tself.  S til l,
it  is go o d t o beremind ed  of th e pos it ives. Th anks.

------
MrTonyD
I 've be en wo rki ng with o pen sou rce softw aresince befo rethe  term  ex i sted(itu se d t o  be c alle d  "free" b e fo rel i ce nsing was u n d e rst ood.)  At this p oint , I
think it is m o stly a bad ide a. F i r st,  th e  big  u sers of most o pen  s o u rce
soft wa re are bigFortune50 0  comp aniesrun by  a bunc h of billio nair es- so whysho ul d  they g et  s o ftware  fre e?  Secon d, I
 my_app never_gets written

You could write_it and_release_it at_a_price equivalent to_your time and
effort._You could even include_the source for_personal_modification and offer
free updates to anyone who contributes back to the project. Or write_it
yourself_and keep_it_private.

>_And if I charge for_it and no one buys_it, what_then, should I give up or
> make it_open-source?

Pricing_is an art,_so I imagine some experimentation is in order. I've_begun
doing so myself. Making it open_source, as in_no_cost_to redistribute, would
still devalue_programming as a paid profession; even_if it's hard to see at
the_micro level.

> What if that 'person' can_use my software for free and_in doing so save some
>_money so_that they can write the_software they want_to?

Good counter-point._Some producers do_benefit indirectly as they are also
consumers_of tools. Yet_if they ultimately find it harder_to_get paying work--
because_the_market_as a_whole expects software_below_cost--then the_net_effect
looks negative to me.

------
omnivore
Add-ons, mods and_other_freebies are often about solving a problem,_learning
something new or simply_contributing_to the community. I_doubt you're alone in
feeling regret_about giving a thing away that_you later_see people_pay for out
of someone else, but it doesn't mean the work_went to waste or that you
somehow_squandered the one chance_you to_contribute_materially.

~~~
paulryanrogers
>...it doesn't mean_the_work went_to waste or that you somehow squandered_the
> one_chance you [had] to contribute materially.

While_I did learn a_lot_through the process of contributing to_free software,
it's also time I could_have spent making software that_paid_for_itself. Still,
it is good to_be reminded of the positives. Thanks.

------
MrTonyD
I've_been working with_open source software since before the term_existed_(it
used to be called "free" before_licensing_was understood.) At this point, I
think_it_is_mostly a bad idea. First,_the big users of most open_source
software are big Fortune 500 companies run by a_bunch of billionaires_- so why
should they get_software_free?_Second, I