Do You Write Open Source Codes?

halfpower · 10-06-2006, 01:04 PM

Many here have probably written software of some kind. When you write a program do you release the source code? Sometimes I worry that what ever I might be working on has some potential value. If I release the source code, that might prevent me from making a profit should I later learn to code better.

b0uncer · 10-06-2006, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Sometimes I worry that what ever I might be working on has some potential value. If I release the source code, that might prevent me from making a profit should I later learn to code better.

Then you're thinking it wrong. If you learn to code better later, what prevents you to then create someting new and sell it? And why would you want to get paid for the code, do something that you can release open source and get profit by other means. It's not just a nicer idea, it's better in the long-term: somebody surely will crack the app and you won't get paid for the code as much as you should, but if you get paid for other reasons (like support) that can't be pirated, you're doing better.

jlliagre · 10-06-2006, 03:55 PM

I agree, writing open source code is the best way to go.

However, it is usually not an option for the very large majority of professional programmers, I mean people paid to write programs. Their companies and/or their customers own the intellectual property rights of the code, so releasing it under an OSI license is often not an option, at least not a developer's option.

This is slowly changing though.

slantoflight · 10-06-2006, 08:06 PM

Everythings open source if you know ASM.

On a more serious note. And I guess this could apply universally. Keeping secrets are generally futile in the long run.

Besides, you wanna carry your source code to the grave with you or something?

halfpower · 10-07-2006, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slantoflight

Besides, you wanna carry your source code to the grave with you or something?

No. Not unless I can make money by doing so.

halfpower · 10-07-2006, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0uncer

somebody surely will crack the app and you won't get paid for the code as much as you should...

I was counting on my app never receiving wide distribution. In this scenario, there would be no network overwhich cracks could be distributed.

bulliver · 10-08-2006, 01:38 PM

Quote:

I was counting on my app never receiving wide distribution. In this scenario, there would be no network overwhich cracks could be distributed.

That's rather naive I think. If your software is useful, and someone doesn't want to pay for it it _will_ be cracked...wide distribution or not.

Personally, I am not the greatest coder but everything I write is released free and open source. It is my tiny way of contributing back for all the excellant code others have written and let me use for free.

slantoflight · 10-09-2006, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halfpower

No. Not unless I can make money by doing so.

i was kinda half kidding, but thats interesting. You'll go the whole way it seems.