Open Source: Who Are Those Guys?

dfay writes "An interesting article on ZDNet about who makes up the Open Source Movement. Of course, you have to accept the premise that all OSS programmers are tracked in the LSM. Still, I think the overall tone of the piece suggests that OSS developers can be taken at least as seriously as those in the 'industry'." Actually, the article mentions that lots of developers' work, including kernel hacks, don't show up in Linux Software Maps [LSMs]. Still good stuff.

Comments

Not too surprising

[davevr]

Anyone who gives a casual glance over at Freshmeat can see that most of the software is pretty serious stuff, that requires at least a BS in CS. I mean, come on, your typical teen warez monkey can't even spell HTML, much less write some useful tool for it.

It seems that there are three conditions needed to get Geeks to write stuff.

1. It has to be something geeks themselves need (or want).
2. It has to be something that is not already available to buy (or is too expensive, too limited, or unpurchasable for whatever reason.)
3. There has to be a particular passion in the geek for creating it.

Compare this to commercial software:

1. much commercial software is stuff the users need, not the geeks. Some of it is actually abhorrent to geeks.
2. Much of it is a newer version of stuff that is already available (i.e., the need is established).
3. given 1) and 2), there isn't always the passion factor. Therefore, people are paid to write it.

I don't think that makes commercial software evil - it is just based on very different conditions. Both can exist. It shouldn't surprise anyone that impassioned people can create a better product. But that said, I think people might be surprised at how much passion there IS in commercial software. Most developers I know care quite a bit about their projects. A good developer can work anywhere they want; they have chosen the jobs they have.

...

[Signal 11]

*gurgle* Yeees master....

Let's see... ZDNet wrote a wonderful article once again.. unhindered by the facts though they may be....

My list of OSS developers:

ESR - Wrote some articles. Carries a gun. Has a short temper. Wants somebody to take his job. Probability of going postal (or cobol) within the next 6 months: 75% Could use a beer.

RMS - Wrote alot of code. Has long hair. Doesn't carry a gun. Gets into frequent fights with ESR anyway. Wishes people would stop calling open source "free". Wants free speech, but not free beer.

RM - Made some nerds for news site. Drinks lots of free beer.

WTF - Mythical god of programming. Usually invoked whenever something doesn't work, ie: "WTF, why did you do that?" Drink some beer and he'll go away.

Linus: Coded the greatest operating system known in 6 days. On the 7th day he rested. We've been releasing new kernels ever since. Claims teenage girls don't throw their underwear at him but we know better. Currently unemployed - "This company is not yet here." He's one reason alot of programmers started drinking. =)

Alan Cox - Linus' right hand man. Whatever linus breaks, he fixes. Often has a new kernel ready to before you've even finished downloading the present release posted to kernel-dev ten minutes ago. Has long hair. Beer status unknown.

--

Coming to your town - lock your doors

[Uruk]

...Bar your windows, the Evil Open Source Longhaired Communist Anti-Business Hippies are on the way!!
From the Propaganda Department of the United States of America, subdivision Microsoft, Inc.

Protect your children! These developers will stop at nothing to bring the flourishing networked economy to a grinding halt in the name of satanic flightless birds, and some crazy guy named after one of the Peanuts characters!!! (Linus)

Oh, and you just KNOW they're all *COMMIES*. How on earth could anybody give anything away for free, without being some kind of hippe beatnik pot smoking red commie pinko of a subversive! They're not AMERICANS like you or I - their hearts pump no blood like ours, but rather, a thick, vomitous black fluid that oozes and stinks of their evil intentions.

Resist this creeping evil! Do not be fooled by Open Source Programmers who mindlessly chatter about how they offer more stable and secure software than Microsoft. The very concept is absurd! Now shut up and listen to Mr. Paperclip.

(Warning: The above was a joke - if you didn't gather that, please look up the term LART and apply it to thyself)