Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Is Open Source Recession Proof?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the somebody-submit-a-better-story-please dept.

DaMan writes "ZDNet asks Is open source recession proof? 'So, how might a recession affect open source software? Well, first off, I think that any business model that relies on volunteers could certainly see interest decline if times get tough. There are a lot of businesses that rely on people working for them for free because they get a pay check somewhere else, and I think that a recession would make people question working without getting any dollars in return.'"

4 of 285 comments (clear)

  1. Ways a recession could affect Opensource by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 5, Insightful

    1) Employees of major corporations assigned to opensource could be laid off or reassigned to directly profitable projects.

    2) People who work on opensource in their spare time could be laid off and
        a) Be unable to buy computers, maintain an internet connection, etc.
        b) OR... have lots of spare time and do a lot of cool stuff to build their resume.

    3) Folks who are depressed are not every productive. In a deep recession there will be a lot of fear, anxiety, and depression.

    4) Donations to opensource bandwidth, download sites, and so on could falter and lead to blackouts of key opensource resources.

    --
    She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
    1. Re:Ways a recession could affect Opensource by lwriemen · · Score: 5, Insightful

      5) A bad job market means employers can ask employees to work more overtime without the fear of turnover, leading to less free time available to work on open-source projects.

  2. Definitely by iminplaya · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you can do anything besides just counting beans, and you stay out of debt, you are recession proof.

    --
    What?
  3. Re:Slow news day much? by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Recession isn't when there isn't enough money, recession is when the money is hoarded and no longer used for exchange, leading those who are the owners of the real capital to foreclose on everyone and scoop up ownership of anything that isn't already theirs, and causing hardship because everyone just stops working.

    The problem with a recession is that everyone just sits around doing nothing with no direction, not that the money supply dried up. It's a testament to the power of sheeple.

    So, if people have nothing to do that will make them a quick buck one way or the other, and they haven't yet lost their tools of the trade, there's every reason to think they might contribute more just because they are idle.

    Of course, when they've taken your house, it's kind of hard to write software while you're living in a tent city...

    --
    -1 Uncomfortable Truth