Interview: Richard Stallman
Linked by Linux Review on Tue 20th Mar 2012 17:07 UTC
GNU, GPL, Open Source It's been a while since we caught up with Stallman. But a couple months ago we took a look around at what's happening with law, politics and technology and realized that he maybe perhaps his extremism and paranoia were warranted all along. So when we were contacted by an Iranian Linux publication and asked if we would like to publish an English translation of a recent interview they had done with Stallman, I thought that it was a particularly rich opportunity.
E-mail Print r 10   · Read More · 79 Comment(s) http://osne.ws/juk
Thread beginning with comment 511551
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
One big hole
by Moochman on Thu 22nd Mar 2012 17:57 UTC
Moochman
Member since:
2005-07-06

His answer about how to earn a living on free software is mind-bogglingly short-sighted IMHO. His argument is that "most paid software development is custom"--whatever that means, I believe he is referring to custom-tailored software created for in-house use within an organization. Be that as it may, most *used* software is not custom -- it's mostly commercial software distributed on a large scale to the unwashed masses, at relatively cheap prices due to economies of scale. The only reason there are so many jobs in "custom" software despite its niche status is that the developers charge an arm and a leg for it to make up for the low number of licenses.

So given that the "non-custom" software is actually more important to 99% of users, what is Stallman's proposal to replace the proprietary model for said infinitely more useful non-custom software? hmmm???

Edited 2012-03-22 18:09 UTC

Reply Score: 2

RE: One big hole
by mistersoft on Thu 22nd Mar 2012 19:53 in reply to "One big hole"
mistersoft Member since:
2011-01-05

RE replacing the 99% of 'more useful'(for consumers; i'm sure it's a lower % for businesses but the point is still valid)

Anyway - just wanted to say, good point! well made. I was trying to say something similar - but I'm not always very concise!! cheers

Reply Parent Score: 1

RE: One big hole
by kaiwai on Fri 23rd Mar 2012 13:01 in reply to "One big hole"
kaiwai Member since:
2005-07-06

You would sell services on top of the software - in an ideal world in other words you would have hardware vendors like Dell developing and supporting their own version of Linux, selling extended support contracts etc. In other words the existing model would be replaced and there would be a period of transition where not all businesses make it but in the end consumers will realise that software is more than just DVD/CDs and that they're paying for someones specialised skills in much the same way that one pays for a qualified plumber or electrician.

Reply Parent Score: 3

RE[2]: One big hole
by Moochman on Sat 24th Mar 2012 16:59 in reply to "RE: One big hole"
Moochman Member since:
2005-07-06

You would sell services on top of the software - in an ideal world in other words you would have hardware vendors like Dell developing and supporting their own version of Linux, selling extended support contracts etc. In other words the existing model would be replaced and there would be a period of transition where not all businesses make it but in the end consumers will realise that software is more than just DVD/CDs and that they're paying for someones specialised skills in much the same way that one pays for a qualified plumber or electrician.


Hmm. This answer doesn't satisfy me at all. First of all, Dell would probably suck at developing their own version of Linux, and honestly I'd rather have one Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu) that has a cohesive vision, is well-supported for the long term, and runs on multiple platforms, than have every hardware manufacturer developing some custom thing and thereby fragmenting and ultimately (in all likelihood) making crappier the Linux that they put on their machines. That's what's happening to Android right now after all, isn't it, and look how that turned out...

Second, the point about treating software developers like people with specialized skills such as plumbers or electricians... Developing software is nothing like being an electrician or plumber. When you release a piece of software, especially if you make it open-source, there is no mechanism in place to ensure that you will be financially compensated for your work -- copying is, after all, free. Whereas, an electrician or plumber is doing something in a physical location in the physical world where their efforts cannot be replicated free of cost. Can you imagine the equivalent of an "open-source" plumber? Of course not, because he deals in physical services that cannot be replicated for free.

The only way to ensure that you get compensated for your work as a software developer is by either A) Asking for donations and trusting people to give them B) employing some kind of artificial mechanism to prevent customers from attaining your product without paying, or C) to have a middle-man (such as Red Hat or Dell) paying you because of the fact that your work enables some kind of commerce in the physical world. But then the question is, what will happen to all the innovative "apps" if there is no middle-man company out there willing to pay for them to be developed? What will happen to the independent software developer who has that cool, unique new idea and wants to devote his life to bringing it to life?

Reply Parent Score: 2