Weasel Boy's Journal: How will Free software succeed?

Easily!

You just have to ask some fundamental questions to see why.

Q: Who benefits from Free software?

A: Absolutely everybody who uses a computer, except those who make money by selling competing software -- and even they benefit, because they can use Free software, too.

Q: If nobody's paying for software, who's going to write it?

A: Free software will be supported by companies whose main business is not selling software, but who do need to have software. IBM, Apple, Sun, and HP all benefit when they develop software and give it away for free, because they sell hardware. Systems integrators can afford to give software away because they sell configured systems. Large web sites can afford to give software away because they sell advertising. AOL can afford to give software away because they sell content. Contracting shops want to have a free infrastructure because they sell vertical-market applications. There are more than enough businesses with solid, nuts-and-bolts financial incentives to keep Free software going indefinitely. Companies whose sole product is Free software may be funded by industry consortia that wish to have the benefit of continued support of the product, or that wish to forge an industry-wide standard.

Q: How stupid do you have to be to fail to see that most people and companies stand to benefit if they can get (some of) their software for free?

A: Very stupid. Stupider than the people who make mony selling software.

Q: So what could possibly stop Free software?

A: Plenty of obstacles can slow or even stop the spread of Free software. Ignorance is now pretty much out of the running; millions of people know about Free software. Lies will slow the adoption of Free software by scaring away potential users. Greed may prevent some companies from realizing that giving software away as an incentive to buy their other products and services may do more for their business than selling it. Betrayal, e.g., persuading governments to outlaw Free software, can easily kill it. Disorganization is probably the biggest threat. Free software projects need strong leaders to hold them together and assimilate all the contributions to improve the project for everyone, and discourage forking.

Q: What's wrong with charging money for software?

A: There's absolutely nothing wrong with charging money for software. It is difficult to sell something that's freely available, but it can be done. People pay for bottled water, even though they can slurp it straight from the tap. People will voluntarily pay for anything -- even software -- if they perceive some added value.

Q: Does this mean the long-term dominance of Free software is assured?

A: Not at all. The opposition is extremely dedicated, and has vast resources. Free software has gotten off to a good start, but it is by no means too strong to be smothered.

If enough people with real business interests come to realize how they will benefit from writing and distributing Free software, then it stands a good chance of surviving.