Is paying for a software really the only way of appreciating a developer? Or is it because of some old belief that protecting intellectual property will drive innovation, that we think that way?you can appreciate the developers work and buy their software legally if it is available.
An idea shouldn't be bought. An idea should be shared, copied, and stretched to a wider audience so everyone can benefit from it. Is it normal that a would-be graphic designer should pay 1000$+ for Adobe's software (which let's face it is the only standard in the industry). Is it normal that every computer user should pay 200$+ to Microsoft to use a computer?
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not encouraging piracy, yet only mentioning that viable alternatives exist. I am talking about free/open-source. I guess my point is that it's up to programmers to understand that you don't get paid for your ideas, but for your skills. I know that there aren't many programmers here on the forum. but if I could urge them to stop thinking in terms of intellectual property, they would become far better programmers, instantly.
And before you start bashing the current state of freely shared software, just think about this: It is almost absolutely certain than free software will be in a far better shape if more and more people joined us. Now with that being said, I'm a proudly free of corporate proprietary software.
I would strongly recommend reading the work of Richard M. Stallman... a visionnary.
