On Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:14:33 -0700, Darren New wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> Or support it, or consult on it, or train on it....there is a whole
>> services model around software that's more than just charging to fix
>> it.
> 
> Right. *All* of those fall down when the software is easy to use,
> stable, etc.

Perhaps, though I might debate "consult" - sometimes consulting is 
brought in not because of ease-of-use issues but because of manpower 
issues.

>> Besides, under the GPL, if you fix it and distribute the fix, you have
>> to distribute the code freely as well, so you can't really charge to
>> fix it, even.
> 
> Sure. You charge for support contracts, not for the fixes.

Exactly.

>>> Indeed, that's the usual answer to "well, how do programmers make a
>>> living if all software is free?"
>> 
>> Consulting, custom programming, etc.
> 
> I.e., not via software, but via services. That's my point.

The same holds true for non-OSS in that case, so I'm not sure what your 
point is....?

Jim

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