hi /prog/
I'm planning dev apps for android market. I'm a FLOSS soft. user/hobbyist developer, in this case I want to make some $ (I can't eat freedom philosophy), my dilemma is if I want to earn some money I have not to release these apps as FLOSS, because I give up many of my rights, I only can earn money with distribution (as many of the future buyers of the app!!!).
In this case FLOSS doesn't works?
The only way is not to open source, proprietary software with EULA?
Name:
Anonymous2010-03-29 8:08
The flaw in your premise is in your assumption that when users have freedom, you don't get paid. You need to change that assumption.
That's right. Except you suck at coding, so making a good proprietary app that will attract customers is out as well. I'd suggest a lowest-common-denominator app that either shows boobies or plays fart sounds. Maybe do both. No one will ever ask or care about the source code, I guarantee it!
Name:
Anonymous2010-03-29 8:34
>>3
Theoretically speaking, is it possible to somehow trap some air between mammary glands and use it to produce a sound characteristic for flatulency?
>>7
Because all people developing the linux kernel are doing it for free, rite? IHBT
Name:
Anonymous2010-03-30 11:53
>>7
salary.Who will pay me a salary for my own initiative? Hey [name of big corp. here] I have an idea for a FLOSS app, let's start developing and pay me a salary!
OP, Protip: You can still have the app be open source and sell it. Even with the GPL, you are only required to provide the source when you distribute it, which means you only need to provide it to the people who buy your app.
Name:
Anonymous2010-03-30 12:26
>>10
that's right but these costumer pays, and then distribute changing the name free...business end's.
The only choice is selling support? book's, about an Android app? t-shirts? I'm a developer or an merchant from the Middle Ages?
>>11
If you're really that worried, you could provide the source under a non-free license (shared source). This used to be popular in the '80's, but sadly it's not as popular today. Besides, I can't imagine what kind of complex software you're selling that other people would have a hard time duplicating even without giving them the source code. Most apps for mobile devices are rather trivial.
Protip: nobody gives a fuck about your application's source. So if you're going to do something which could be used by someone apart yourself, separate that functionality as a library and license it with a BSD license.