75% of linux code written by paid developers

[deanjo]

Ran across this article, kind of puts into perspective where corporate contribution lies in linux.

http://apcmag.com/linux-now-75-corporate.htm

[curaga]

Deja vu - hasn't this been said before?

[deanjo]

Deja vu - hasn't this been said before?

Ya but the percentage seems to be growing, last figure IIRC was about 66%. It just shows how little development is actually done on a "free as in beer" basis. Just a little wake up call for those that think corporate contributions are not needed even in the "free world".

[krazy]

It just shows how little kernel development is actually done on a "free as in beer" basis. Just a little wake up call for those that think corporate contributions are not needed even in the "kernel world".

Fixed that for you

[deanjo]

Fixed that for you

I think that could be pretty much said for most major open source projects.

[RobbieAB]

This is not really a huge surprise. As I understand it, it is essentially what Stallman envisaged when he started the whole movement. His objection was not to commercial interests but was to restriction of his right and ability to tinker.

Also, this is slightly inevitable, as people who start out doing it "Just for fun" will get paid to carry on doing it if they are good at it and making people money.

[kraftman]

Ya but the percentage seems to be growing, last figure IIRC was about 66%. It just shows how little development is actually done on a "free as in beer" basis. Just a little wake up call for those that think corporate contributions are not needed even in the "free world".

Linux is "free as beer" isn't it? I think it's very good so many Linux devs are paid for their work. I believe it's the license and the development model that count the most.

[Ex-Cyber]

Just a little wake up call for those that think corporate contributions are not needed even in the "free world".

Does anyone seriously think that anymore? The image of Linux as somehow being a noncommercial project is at least 15 years out of date. The important things are that work comes from many corporate contributors, and that those contributions are free for everyone to use.

[RealNC]

Does anyone seriously think that anymore? The image of Linux as somehow being a noncommercial project is at least 15 years out of date. The important things are that work comes from many corporate contributors, and that those contributions are free for everyone to use.

The problem here is whose interests Linux follows and what direction it's taking (server vs desktop/multimedia OS).

[deanjo]

Does anyone seriously think that anymore?

You can find many anti-corporate posts in these forums.