Re: Advantages/Disadvantages of Open Source Software (Was Re: Package grub-xen-host breaks PV domains with 11.5 point release)
> The users. They stop using software or any product that does not work
> well or is more trouble than it is worth. Then the entity, whether
> a free/oss or proprietary provider ends up shutting down
> the enterprise.
But, being Free Software, any remaining user can keep using it,
improving it, checking if it contains any back doors, hire someone else
to do it, etc...
>> You do realize that nobody enforces that on proprietary software
>> either, right?
> The users do, in the marketplace - and what is not used by enough
> users eventually disappears.
That's right. And then you're typically completely screwed even if it
happened to work well for you.
The company will also blissfully ignore your requests if you're part of
too-small a slice of their users. Ever tried to get an `armhf` binary for
a proprietary GNU/Linux software?
> I think it is true that the "best" software development model depends
> less on free/oss vs. proprietary and more on the wisdom, foresight,
> integrity, and technical expertise of those doing the work and making
> the important decisions.
I don't care which is better. I just prefer not to depend on the
goodwill of a company (most of which I know act against my interest;
probably inevitably because they are beholden to their shareholders).
Stefan
Reply to: