http://www.techcentralstation.com/012204A.html
Article looking skeptically at the concept of open source, particularly as it relates to Linux. While it acknowledges the strengths and accomplishments of the open source movement, it also makes clear that ongoing maintenance is an intensive and costly chore. Moreover, software is a unique case where open source freedom can even attempt to apply -- it does not represent an extensible economic model.
The final claim, that open source theorists advocate a form of socialization of creation through government subsidy seems both wrong-headed and misplaced. It is by no means clear that all, if many, of the open-source community are advocating this. Nor is it clear that there is something inherently wrong with the diversion of government resources to creative community support -- it was on this basis that the InterNet itself was created, for example.
The broader, more supportable point made here: there is no one model of software development which is correct in all circumstances.
Posted by jho at January 24, 2004 11:17 AM