Re: [Fsfe-uk] Free Software Magazine got cheaper

[Andrew Savory]

Hi,

On Sat, 12 Mar 2005, Lee Braiden wrote:

> The only time you need corporate-style
> finances and resources is when you choose to be a top-down 
> distribution and
> enforcement organisation.  To me, that's not what free software is 
> about.

This is a common misconception about free software: that it can be 
developed for free, and that there are little or no costs in it. Sure, 
some small projects can be handled in free time, but real software 
requires real paid-for hours. How you choose to hide that cost is up to 
you, but it's foolish to pretend it isn't there.

On 12 Mar 2005, at 20:04, Jason Clifford wrote:

> The magazine is not software. It's a different form of product.
>
> In order to happen there are costs that have to be paid -
> writing, production and distribution cost real money. Even if you base 
> the
> magazine on gratis article submissions you have to edit, typeset and
> layout the magazine. Then you have to pay for the print run and 
> shipping
> costs for the magazine or hosting and bandwidth for the online version.

... costs that have to be paid exist in software, too. Analysis, 
design, development, testing, QA, documentation, packaging, 
distribution. Whether you choose to burn it to CD or send it out via 
the internet, there's still costs involved. With magazines the cost is 
loaded at the distribution end; with software it's the production end.


Andrew.

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Andrew Savory, Managing Director, Luminas Limited
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