Re: bias

Deven T. Corzine wrote:

>On Fri, 7 Jun 2002, Anthony Taylor wrote:
>
>>The idea that the GPL is going to destroy all computer jobs is a red 
>>herring.
>>
>
>It may be.  Then again, most of the arguments against it assume proprietary 
>software remains dominant.  Do they still apply if GPL software dominates?
>
>Deven
>

I'm not sure what you mean; is the antecedent for "it," my red-herring 
statement?  If so, then the arguments to which you refer are the pro-GPL 
arguments that concern the availability of work for computer professionals.

In this case, I think there are several assumptions.  First: proprietary 
software is superior to libre software only to those who own the 
copyright, and are able to profit from it.  So in this case, professions 
not based on commercial software programming will benefit more from GPLd 
software than from proprietary software.  This includes proprietary 
in-house extensions of GPLd software, and the use of unencumbered 
standard software, like OS and office suites.

Second assumption: that programming will continue on worthy projects, 
even after it becomes economically non-viable to produce proprietary 
commercial software.  People work on libre code right now; I don't see 
that changing in the years to come.  If a need arises which lacks 
software and a hobbyist/professional doesn't assume that task, someone 
will fund the development of that software, just as Sun, AOL, IBM, 
Compaq, and HP have all contributed to the development of Linux or 
Apache or Mozilla or Openoffice.  Their reasons for doing this are 
varied, I'm sure: perhaps they need this software to make their business 
more viable, or perhaps they consider it R&D, or maybe they wish to 
hedge their bets against future Microsoft betrayal or failure.  Doesn't 
matter; it gets done on both large and small scales, every day, right now.

Third assumption: new industries will spring up supporting GPLd 
software.  This is also happening, as with Red Hat and IBM both taking 
support and development roles.  IBM is using Linux to push big iron; Red 
Hat is proving to be a viable company based on development and support 
of libre software.

For me, there is a fourth item as well, but this one is based more on 
observation and faith in the market: as long as computers are hard to 
use, and hard to maintain, there will always be work.  And once 
computers become easy to use and easy to maintain, there will still be 
work maintaining and designing systems, networks of systems, data flows, 
data storage, interfaces, extensions, and enhancements.  There is a lot 
of life in this chosen field of ours, and miles to go before we sleep. 
 GPLd software has already made my life easier, and made possible things 
that would otherwise have been impossible (for me).  I imagine I am not 
alone.

Anyway, three reasonable assumptions, and a fourth debatable assumption. 
 These are my assumptions; yours may be different.

                    - Tony