I always patiently listen to the people that complain about how Free Libre Open Source Software threats their jobs and their profession (usually the people complaining are developers). Their argument, a valid one, is that they should be able to make a living. I agree with that.
The problem with the argument is that FLOSS is not only Debian, GIMP, or any other project that gathers hundreds of people working only for the sake of the community. You can work for a project that has a budget, and you are going to receive a payment for your work. This will be software that is not going to generate profits every year or every time it is needed to add a new user. A software that after is developed will become Free (as free beer and as freedom). Of course, who is going to pay for the full development? The answer is simple: the government.
Let’s do an exercise. Imagine the system the runs behind a public library. Usually that system is proprietary, and usually is different for each library you visit. Each library has to pay licenses, and get support for a single vendor. It works fine if you have a lot of money. Now imagine that the government asks to a software company to develop a library universal system. The system must be scalable, meet all the international standards (any you can imagine), and be able to do all what actual systems do. The system maybe cost a lot. The government is the only one with the money to go ahead with a project like that. Let’s said it does it. Then, after the system is done, the government makes the software Free. Any library of the country can used. An anyone can provide support because the code is open. Did developers get paid? Sure, they receive money for the product. But after that they should go and work on other project (or create their own company to provide support to the software). Happy developers, happy libraries, and open good code.
In the next post I will discuss how this idea can be translated to other goods.
Tags: #ukgovOSS
