Re: Thanks David

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Re: Thanks David
by Derek Kite on Sunday 17/Oct/2004, @08:03

Indeed it is free. Both ways.

But the social contract of free software demands much from both developers and users.

Developers give their time and expertise without any guaranteed (as much as there is anything certain) return on their investment. They give away control of their code, and allow others to use it within certain broad limits. In doing so they build a community of users and hopefully contributors.

Users get the fruits of the developer's labor, usually at no monetary cost. Now what? Can users expect to get this stuff for nothing? No. Users of Quanta get a good piece of software to use, but also get the opportunity to make it work for them by contributing to the project. Either contributing fixes, documentation, code or money. Really, what right does anyone have to expect someone to do something for them at no cost to themselves?

When the giving is going only one way, the whole system grinds to a halt.

Derek

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