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Making Money Using Open Source Software?
GamblerZG asks: "As many of us probably know, convincing people to run Free Software can sometimes be a tedious task. However, there are a lot of factors that help us in that regard, and, perhaps, the biggest of them is a simple truth: Free Software is free. It's hard to argue with such statement. I know it, because I faced it today, trying to convince my fellow co-worker that it is possible to profit by writing GNU-licensed code. 'How company can make money, if its products are available for free?' That was a valid question indeed, and I could not find any simple answers to respond with. That makes me wonder, whether there are articles on the Internet, which explain and analyze how Open Source business models work? Do you know any ways to prove that such models can be profitable?" It can be done, you can check out a recent interview with an Open Source Entrepreneur on NewsForge for some hints. What other ideas and business plans do you think would be a good match for a business with an Open Source core?
Have we finally found the Second Step?
Couldn't we have summarized this as:
Okay, it's been 2 weeks guys, so we have another programmer who wants to make money programming, but has no idea how to create a solid business model, so let's all put in some work and tell this guy how to make money with FOSS instead of those of us who have figured it out running our own businesses.
Its easy to make money off of Open Source! Slashdot just posted a story on it!
You can mod your friends, you can mod your nose, but you can't mod your friend's nose.
Open source software is the best for making money because the image editors and print drivers don't have currency detection obstacles.
just kidding for all you secret service agents out there
If you use this product commercially, and feel its been of monetary value to you. Please donate a fraction of the value of the software. The value of this software is different for each person and company, please be fair. Thank you.
God spoke to me.
One thing threatening Open Source today--piracy.
As we have already seen today, the GPL is under attack from evil forces known as "pirates." These shadowy folk silently steal source code and violate the GPL, infringing on the rights of GPL authors. They are nothing more than thieves getting a free ride off the work of others, and I for one am disgusted at the idea of it. As you can see in the previous article, clearly Slashdot is also sickened by the idea of copyright infringement and piracy.
Some have even called for a lawsuit against these pirate thieves. Suing individual infringers has always been a position that Slashdot and its readership has supported, so it's only fair that the original GPL authors protect their rights and safeguard their material from being stolen in the future. I think we should all support any lawsuits against these infringers to protect the rights of GPL authors everywhere.
I appluad Slashdot and its readers for always taking a proactive stance against piracy and copyright infringement in general, and I would like to join the cause against this "source code theft." Piracy is a major threat facing OSS today.
'How company can make money, if its products are available for free?'
In Soviet Russia it's a valid question, my friend, but not in English.
Invoicing, Time Tracking, Reporting
Not that difficult, really. All you'd really need is The GIMP to modify serial numbers. Plus a good scanner, nice dye-sublimation printer, and the right paper.
Breasts! Oh, sorry, this isn't the poll...
RPM was garbage 5 years ago too. ;)
Have we finally found the Second Step?
But I don't have a problem. I can quit any time I want to. I just don't want to right now.
Volume.
They say the first thing to go is your penis. Well, it's either that or your brain. I forget which...
I find making money with open-source to be a pretty straight-forward process. My only trouble has been with the TWAIN drivers I needed to scan the individual bills before I printed more.
Mmmmmm... Bold, yet refreshing!