It is the same story all over. There is a growing mass of Open Source "consumers", who don't even realize the principles of the OSS [1]. They only know that they can go into the internet, download some applications and not pay. I wonder if any of them has a real feeling about the cost it takes to prepare and release software. As if the developers had ever had some kind of obligation to spend endless hours just to offer their work for free to those "consumers".
In this case, it is even worse: business applications like OpenERP are supposed to be used in order to make profit. That is, you don't just play with them, but use them in a company and save money or make profit (produce value). So, the end user will benefit from having it, that is the purpose of the software. At the same time, that user thinks he can demand that the software must not ever cost anything. He gets the application, the source code, an extensive documentation, testing in many platforms, interoperability, complete control over the interns, unlimited upgrades and fixes, but still says it is not enough. Just like a spoiled child. I'm not ever suggesting that OpenERP should be a closed source application, nor that any developers should demand payment. But the OS model clearly dictates that the ecosystem is based on people giving back something[2] in return for the goods (= software) they enjoy for free. Otherwise, OS will not be a viable model and fine applications like OpenERP won't be available. [1] and, yes, I do blame Ubuntu about that. [2] it may be code, help, testing, indirect payment (through consulting schemes or service contracts) or just even a "thank you". -------------------- m2f -------------------- -- http://www.openobject.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=35425#35425 -------------------- m2f -------------------- _______________________________________________ Tinyerp-users mailing list http://tiny.be/mailman/listinfo/tinyerp-users
