> On the other hand: doesn't individual development suffers from at least two > problems? > > (1) lack of a common vision leading to potentially widely divergent and > incompatible solutions > (2) lack of sufficient energy (manpower etc.) behind any given project > development to make any real headway. > > Presumably there's a happy medium between supreme bloat and minimalism? >
Look into the farm studies of Poland. Individual work has a benefit no community work can have; honor. That product's success or failure is going to affect the image of who created it. When an individual creates a product, it has a desire to see it succeed. When a group creates a product, they have a desire to get their paychecks. You can be right about the manpower issue. In no way could on man build a bridge, but one man can build efficient software.
