GPL, BSD, Opensource/Free Software movement.

I've be a mindless supporter of these movements for years now not because I was a developer myself but because most of them provided me with a lot of useful free software.

However now that I'm becoming more of a programmer I'm questioning the ideology behind these movements.

1. For which situations are these intended? For every developer?
2. Doesn't it go against the developer himself? How can he secure profit while still sustain such projects?

Just willing to learn.
Thanks.

>>55 is right.
I don't understand why people get all up against that point of view. There is nothing wrong with this socialistic/communistic approach to software. It fits imaginary/pseudo-public property quite well, and it doesn't have the shortcomings it has when applied to physical property.

So yes, rms' approach is communistic. So what? It's a fine approach. Are you just getting upset about it because you think it's un-American or something like that? Who cares, just do what you think is right!