In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Calum Galleitch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes >On Thursday 03 July 2003 10:43 am, Bernard Hill wrote: > >> >> So what encourages the developer to develop code if there is no payment >> to the developer? >> > >AMK mostly summarised it. I found it difficult to really understand why it >took off until I read what RMS (Richard Stallman) wrote about it (from >memory): > >"I cannot enjoy a piece of software without sharing it with my friends". > >He goes on to explain that this has to mean creating Free software, but that >one sentence is as succinct as I think you can get. When you consider that a >bunch of mostly unpaid developers created from scratch an operating system >and a complete suite of software which I've been using as my only desktop for >almost a year, that's quite something. > >That doesn't mean that all software should be made Free. Your software is >unique, as far as I know, in coming as close to a freehand notation package >as possible. I don't think there's anything else with your focus. In turn, >that means there isn't all that many folk that need exactly what you provide >(but the folks like Willie Donaldson who do, really do). So charge them for >it. And when you're retired, and you're looking at spending your time in a >rocking chair, whack a GPL on it and bask in the knowledge that people are >benefitting from your generosity. In the meantime, earn your living. > >There is a kind of zone in between two kinds of software, the one-man project >of very specialised interest (abc*ps would be at the upper end of this), and >high-usage applications where many developers can collaborate to create a >replacement for commercial software. This zone, where your application sits, >is probably the least suited to Free software. > >> I confess I don't understand the Linux setup *at all*. > >Neither do I, I'm just grateful. > >Cheers,
Thanks for your time in explaining that. And I like the description of my software... I might even use it in my advertising with your permission - ? Bernard Hill Braeburn Software Author of Music Publisher system Music Software written by musicians for musicians http://www.braeburn.co.uk Selkirk, Scotland To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
