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Michael Meeks Says OO.o Project is "Profoundly Sick"
unassimilatible writes "Michael Meeks, who works full time developing OpenOffice, writes in his blog that the project is 'profoundly sick.' 'In a healthy project we would expect to see a large number of volunteer developers involved, in addition — we would expect to see a large number of peer companies contributing to the common code pool; we do not see this in OpenOffice.org. Indeed, quite the opposite we appear to have the lowest number of active developers on OO.o since records began: 24, this contrasts negatively with Linux's recent low of 160+. Even spun in the most positive way, OO.o is at best stagnating from a development perspective.'"
They were talking about contributors to the project, not users.
I think the main question is "Does OO expect to attract professional developers when they pay them with 'a free Office equivalent, which I guess you could just download anyway'".
Its not like people are going to be rolling much OO code into their own projects - which is where the GPL licensing breaks down. The cost (giving up your entire codebase) is probably "high" when its likely a small fraction of OO code that is wanted (say some paragraph breaking logic). If the project was under a more commercial friendly license, such as BSD/Apache then I suggest people would be happy taking small pieces and contributing their changes back.
In the case of BSD code I have used at work and changed, I give the changes back. My client doesnt want to maintain them anyway. Using GPL is usually completely out the question - even if they don't care now they worry about needing to care in future. BSD code is very free in all senses of the word, and its utility is therefore higher.
Complain about how companies should always provide source all you like, and use viral licensing to force them to release code if they use yours, sure. Don't come complaining when people think the cost is too high, and nobody is interested on pushing your ideals when they could just be getting on with doing business.
3laws: No freebies, no backsies, GTFO.
Did you ever met someone that wants to code java 'for fun' (as in Linux 'just for fun'), in their free time?
I did not.
Support Eachother, Copy Dutch Property!
Firstly
Firstly First"ly, adv.
In the first place; before anything else; -- sometimes
improperly used for first.
[1913 Webster]
Put identity in the browser.
It's from 1996, before he was a total douchebag.
Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.