Open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product’s source materials.The open source model includes the concept of concurrent yet different agendas and differing approaches in production, in contrast with more centralized models of development such as those typically used in commercial software companies.
Proprietary software/code is computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of the copyright holder. The licensee, is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, but restricted from other uses, such as modification, further (re)distribution, or reverse engineering.
Which system produces the most desirable results for the producers and consumers of software?
Proprietary code would probably always have a place in more specialised applications, such as industrial. Where a company basically has its own software R&D department, or contracts to one especially, to create its own highly specialised software. But the only thing that would naturally keep it ‘proprietary’ is the same thing that keeps most trade secrets and confidential information secret.
Honestly, I don’t think it’s possible to enforce such things when they’re general-use applications available to the public at large. Even if it were moral, which it’s not. In any case, it certainly doesn’t help consumers. On the other hand, Bill Gates probably wouldn’t be quite as rich, but in terms of ‘producers’ as a whole, yeah, they’d be much better off.
There are plenty of software that are free of charge and make money through advertising. For example, Google search, Angry Birds, etc. Are these open source? Technically, no. However, these examples to show that you don’t have to charge for a license as is done for Microsoft Office.
As I often mentioned and then explained in great detail, open source software serves the needs of the producers of open-source software, while proprietary software serves the needs of the consumers under the division of labor. In fact no comparison can be made between them because they are two goods so different as to be incommensurable.
I doubt your experience means much, but I mistakenly assumed you had experience that would obviously invalidate your claims. Either you don’t have much experience (since counter-facts are easy enough to find) or you’re back to practicing denial when confronted with facts that don’t match your theories.
The validity of your perspective can only be determined by the accuracy of your statements.
Here are 5 examples which refute your claims. PHP, MySQL, Apache, Ruby on Rails, Perl. I’ll add Python in as a bonus. Don’t even need to touch Linux.
Without these, there is no web, commercial or non-commercial. Good luck arguing that the largest companies on the web, like Google and Facebook, Amazon and eBay don’t use a division of labor. I’m sure you’ll do it though. Cognitive dissonance is the operating paradigm of our discussions.
With so many other incorrect presumptions, why should anyone imagine this one is any different?
The ad hom is amusing, if only because it’s so far from the truth.
If we are going to get into this again can someone please define “better” with respect to the quality of the software? If it’s subjective then we have no reason to argue; if it’s objective then what is the measure of quality?
You guys, there are far more consumer products out there, that are open-source.
Firefox and MediaWiki come to mind. Wikipedia is like the worlds 4th most visited website. There is more, Open-Source modeling is moving outside of SD market and into other markets.
Crossfit programs are typically open-source. You are free to follow the program on your own, you just have to invest in the capital to do so(Just like a software developer developing open source code)
