As I have said before, I am a huge fan of open-source applications. I use Apache, PHP, MySQL — just to name a few. In fact, even Apple’s OS X has the open-source operating system Unix at its core.
When most people think open-source, the first thing that comes to mind in “free”. Though that is one characteristic, I would argue that it is a “by-product” of the method, rather than a salient property. Essentially, they are technologies that are completely “open” so that anyone can go in and modify or augment the functionality of the code, so long as they share their additions with the rest of the community. In many ways (probably because its of the same genesis), it is a lot like academia, where one shares and builds off other’s ideas.
This becomes an issue when users of the technology do not fully appreciate this dynamic and have different expectations of the software developers. This came up yesterday with a discussion between one of the ardent supporters of Wordpress and the core developer. Even though there is no monetary obligation, there is still a “cost of ownership” to open-source applications. One must be willing to contribute to the effort, and not just use it.
Am I saying that every user has to be a developer? No way. There are many ways to support the effort beyond coding. Providing reports, using/promoting the product, and providing support to newer users all serve the common goal.
As in all of life, one has to be willing to give in order to receive.
on Jun 13th, 2004 at 2:30 pm
What if one wants to use use WordPress as they would a commercial application? Is sending a “donation” enough to offset the guilt or should there in fact be any guilt? The problem with what you’ve said is that it limits the way one can think about using software like this. Open source ought to include, open mind about how one uses and supports the software and it may be that just using the software is enough. I mean, the more installed bases of WP there are, the more power “it” has, right? It speaks because people use it. MT speaks because it has a huge base of devoted fans and now WP will maybe get some of those fans as MT changes the rules for being part of the base.