Re: [linux-audio-dev] Re: Free Software vs. Open Source: Where do *you* stand?

"Kjetil S. Matheussen" <kjetil@email-addr-hidden> writes:

> Pete Bessman:
>>
>> Well, I'm about to crack open a can of worms, but let me just say that
>> I'm 100% not interested in starting any debates/fights/riots/states-of-
>> emergency. All I'm interested in is hearing where people stand and why
>> --- I don't want to persuade people one way or the other, and I'd like
>> to ask that everyone restrain themselves when feeling the urge to tell
>> someone that they're wrong.
>>
>
> <snip>
>
> Well, if you find windows software better suited for your needs, you
> should definitely go windows. Music is what we work for, right? But
> please, IMO, don't pay for any non-open source software. There are
> lots of excellent p2p tools you can use to get the software you
> need. Please don't support makers of non-open source software.

That's disingenuous in my book. One should put one's money where
one's mouth is and vice versa.

I am myself a developer of free software, and I find it plain
distasteful how few people are willing to volunteer a dime in return
for the freedoms I provide them with. The total amount of donations
in dollars for the software in the last few years amounts to less than
half of the people subscribed to the Freshmeat announcement list
alone, even though the release announcements mention the possibility
of donations.

The idea of free software is to provide users with freedom, not to
starve developers.

If you consider software worth using under its license terms and
conditions, then you should consider reimbursing the authors with part
of the value that the software provides you with. If you don't
consider it worth using, then don't use it.

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum