Expert: Melvin Davidson - 10/10/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Melvin,

I've heard about Open Software, and Free Software, and all those projects that are carried on by people for free.
How does that work? Is it really for free? Why do someone work for free wnen they could do something better with their time? Is there someone behind those projects providing the money? Because there's no free lunch. Someone is providing the resources somehow, right?

Thanks in advance,

Richard

ANSWER: Richard,

Yes, Free Software is free. Open Software (Open Source) is also free, but with a caveat. It is free to download and use. What is means is that someone does not have to pay to use the software. It does not mean that others cannot charge for providing a CD (or other media) with the software.
Nor does it mean that a consultant cannot charge for working or supporting the software.

If you want the most recent version of PostgreSQL, you may download for free from
http://www.postgresql.org/download/

As to why someone would work for free, you would have to ask them yourself. I can tell you that I was a volunteer firefighter for 39 years, while supporting myself with a regular job also. I suppose it is a matter of pride or the self satisfaction you get knowing you have contributed to benefit others.

You are correct that someone is providing the resources. The PostgreSQL community consists of many contributors:

http://www.postgresql.org/community/
and
http://www.postgresql.org/community/contributors/

Donation information can be found at:
http://www.postgresql.org/about/donate

Regards,
Melvin Davidson

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Melvin,

Thank you for your honest answer, and for serving in the firefighters.
What puzzles me is that the programmers that develop free software have like a kind of war with microsoft, and other who develop software for profit, and I wonder if they want all software to be free, and they are programmers ... To me it doesn't make any sense but maybe I'm missing something... how are they going to support themselves?

Thanks in advance.

Sincerely,

Richard


Answer
Richard,

Your question goes well beyond the realms of my expertise in PostgreSQL. You are asking me to tell you why programmers write code for free. There is no definitive answer, but I can assure you that they also have a regular job they also get paid for, in addition to the free code they write. Ask yourself this question. Have you ever seen a programmer on the side of the road with a sign that says "Will code for food"? :) Of course not. There are paid firefighters that also volunteer in their home community. There are doctors that volunteer to help people in 3rd world countries and there are many other professionals that also share their expertise for free. As a matter of fact, if you think about it, this entire web site is composed of experts that work, but also answer questions for free. So I suppose it is simply a matter of human nature to want to help others, in whatever way possible.

Do you have any technical questions relating to PostgreSQL? If not, you might try just using a search engine with the keywords "why free software" to get a better answer to your question.

Please do not forget to rate my response to this and your previous question.

Thank you,
Melvin Davidson