• michaelmrose@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Why would open source code be released with the intention of helping people who wont or can’t give back?

    • phlegmy@sh.itjust.works
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      6 months ago

      Why not?
      I’ve been in situations where I couldn’t release the code to a project, but I was able to use some decent libraries because they were MIT licensed.
      So I’m happy to do the same for libraries I write so that others in similar situations could also receive the same benefit I did.
      I see it as an act of public goodwill, like paying it forward for the times you can’t directly contribute to another project.

      Just my personal view on it, anyway.
      I’m not claiming it’s a bulletproof solution or that it isn’t open to being ‘abused’.

      • michaelmrose@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        It’s an act of public goodwill to rich corporations who could get the same privilege by paying for a separate license.

        • phlegmy@sh.itjust.works
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          6 months ago

          It’s an act of goodwill for all developers.

          You’re free to believe it’s a simple black/white “us vs them” issue, but I choose to see the world as more nuanced then that.