🚀 go-pugleaf

>>>>> On 15 May 92 09:24:12 GMT, neuhaus@vier.informatik.uni-kl.de (Stephan
>>>>> Neuhaus (HiWi Mattern)) said:

> In article <RSW.92May12024413@flanger.cs.brown.EDU>, rsw@cs.brown.EDU (Bob
> Weiner) writes:

>> How about a new topic now, like:  How GNU software has helped me.
>> We could spend our lives on the negative; why not discuss some
>> of the positive for awhile.

> Okay, here goes.  [This is only about the effects of GNU for the
> things I do at home.  Things at the University are similar, however.]

Well, that shows how GNU software can help someone when they are *using* the
GNU software developed by someone else.  What I'd like to see is a discussion
of:

How has *developing* GNU software helped me?  Have I seen a "return on
investment" (you provide the definition)?

There is, of course, the FSF as well as Cygnus Software and others around the
world that are capable of answering this.  I'd like to know how *developing*
GNU software is a worthwhile endeavor.  Sure, maybe developing some tool that
others can find useful would give me a thrill and validate my efforts, but is
that all I can expect from developing "free" software?  Are the distributors
and supporters of "free" software the only ones who can make "money" (perhaps
money is a bad word, but this is a capitalistic world, so don't rule it out
unless you have an alternative to capitalism).
--
====================================================================
David Masterson					Consilium, Inc.
(415) 691-6311					640 Clyde Ct.
davidm@consilium.com				Mtn. View, CA  94043
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"Observe that for the programmer, as for the chef, the urgency of the patron
 may govern the scheduled completion of the task, but it cannot govern the
 actual completion.  An omelette, promised in two minutes, may appear to be
 progressing nicely.  But when it has not set in two minutes, the customer
 has two choices -- wait or eat it raw.  Software customers have had the
 same choices."
-- Frederick P. Brooks, Jr, _The Mythical Man-Month_