A Perspective on Microsoft's Shared Source

Masa writes "ONLamp has an insightful article by Stephen R. Walli about Microsoft Shared Source Initiative and some thoughts, what it would really mean if Microsoft would open-source their operating system. The article gives a nice perspective on the Shared Source Initiative and what it is meant to be. It also shows that even if it might look that Microsoft doesn't understand the value of open source, there actually are some projects under the OSI-approved licenses, for example the WiX Toolset, which is a good example of a successful open source project by Microsoft."

Comments

Wrong.

[Blacken00100]

Sorry, no. As the previous poster said, you're talking about free software.

Excellent work being wrong. Back to your RMS hole.

Open Source Foolishness

[AutopsyReport]

I just cannot wrap my head around the fecundity of open source software. The downfalls of it are so blatant and clear that I cannot understand how the majority of this community (and many others externally) is foolish enough to support

Why would you spend your valuable time (unless it's invaluable to you... translation: time is money) researching and developing software which fits a niche, but give it away for absolutely free, on the hope that support will sustain your continuning R&D?

To the consumer, it's a great choice. But to any entrepreneurial developers out there whose time has provided food and shelter to their families, why would you ever decide to offer your software for free?

I've become so fed-up with the absurdity of the open-source movement, and how people claim everything should be open-source. Sure, that would work if life itself wasn't an expense. Living costs money, and any open-source supporter who thinks that offering their time and services for free will reap enough revenue to support a family and a decent life must be losing their minds.

If you offer up a good product, people will pay good money -- this applies to Windows. As much as the majority of Slashdot is against Windows and Microsoft, the fact remainins it IS a very good product. That's the bottom line.

I'll never offer my software or services for free, because my time is worth something to me. If I were to open source my work, then I'd sooner travel the world and spend money, then work my ass off and give it away for free.

To keep this on topic: I hope Microsoft never goes in the open-source direction. Open source is doomed, but people are too busy gagging themselves on the thought that it's free.