Free stuff -- is it good or bad?

[Stupid]

I was thinking about it for some time now, so just wanted to hear your opinion. What is the problem with free software? Seems to be nothing, right? It’s free, it works and enthusiasts who love it wrote it (fans of Doom wrote ZDoom, for example). Communism! Unfortunately we all know what happens later... Without material incentive (preferably green) sooner or later writer is getting bored and/or too busy to keep software up to date, priorities are changing, we getting married, getting kids, and another good idea and implementation dies and slips into oblivion. So my question is why don’t we pay? Good job deserves good pay. Example: we have about 300 people (may be more) in this forum and a lot of us like using ZDoom, for example. If we pay, for example, $10 each to the developer who wrote it, I think he would feel appreciated ($3,000 in the bank) and would have incentive to go on with the project. What do you think?
NOTE: ZDoom is just an example, this problem is generic.

[fodders]

Just installed ZDOOM 1.23 beta 33. Works perfect, plus has great enhancements over previous version. Highly recommend! Very nice piece of software. Too bad on their website there is no info about authors. Would love to send them donation -- good work deserves pay!

using ZDoom, for example. If we pay, for example, $10 each to the developer

C'mon 'fess up, this is RANDY ain't it? :)

[Stupid]

Dude, I’m 32-year-old father of two, who’s living in Silicon Valley, OK?
I’m high-tech professional myself, so I can appreciate time and effort of good programmer. I just think that Doom is a great game and should stay around of a while.
Without people like Randy, for example, I’m not sure we would be playing it right now.

[fodders]

Dude? hehehehe
But on a serious note "ZDoom may be used and distributed free of charge. No profit may be made from the sale of it. These are terms set forth by the Doom Source Code license, the MIDAS Digital Audio System license, and the Prometheus Truecolor license.

"

[Stupid]

Do you see the difference between “profit from sale” and “donation”?
I’m just saying – lets keep software alive and well. If you send ten bucks to good people it’s not gonna kill you, OK?

[pritch]

In principle I agree, except there are problems over whether id would deserve any money, actually collecting the money (you'd need a secure server and some reputable company to handle transactions) and is there really enough demand for it?

Of course, DeePsea is only available commercially, and it's not cheap. I wonder if it's made them enough money to say it was worthwhile doing it.

I kinda like the fact that such things are normally free because they are labours of love, and the whole notion that you make something cos you enjoy it and want other people to appreciate your talents I still think is good.

I'd happily have paid up to £50 for my WAD collection, possibly more...

[Stupid]

Author can setup PayPal account and accept donations directly to his bank account.
It’s free for sender and receiver pays about 2%. Labor of love should be appreciated!

[fodders]

Where do you draw the line? Does everyone who has made a wad set one up? Does zdaemon and csdoom start wanting money? Pretty soon just playing old Doom is gonna cost me more than buying Doom3 from id

[fraggle]

The Free Software Foundation

[fraggle]

I should add that many programmers do not get motivation from money at all, I know that I dont. People make doom ports because they find it interesting and enjoy programming. They dont do it to make money, and they dont rely on money from their doom ports to sustain them financially.

[Naked Snake]

Donations would not really be good, cause not everyone is willing to donate cash for someone to do something they are already doing for free.

[AndrewB]

No, money would not be an incentive for me to work harder on something. Not $10 anyway.

[læmænt]

The whole point of free software is that it's written for fun. If Randy gets bored with zdoom, we'd have to hire him on a full-time job to make him work on it :)

[nxn]

The whole point of free software is that it's written for fun. If Randy gets bored with zdoom, we'd have to hire him on a full-time job to make him work on it :)

or just catch him and make him work for pickles =]

[Stupid]

Whatever. You people are missing the point –- I would like to pay him for his great work.
Not to make him work harder, but just to say thank you. If you don’t agree, that’s OK.
Penny-pinching bastards.

[Sharessa]

Then go pay him...stop complaining...

[nxn]

Exactly, I know his email is on the site, email him asking where you could send in a donation, I'm sure you'll get a reply.

[fraggle]

Studies Find Reward Often No Motivator: Creativity and intrinsic interest diminish if task is done for gain

[Sephiroth]

first i would say freeware is good very good. first it gives upcoming programmers practice and a chance to get there foot in the door by showing talents. Also i tries to keep prices down and freeware compets with expensive software companies, offten time the freeware has more advantages because of its nature. take a look at LINUX and windows. windows only gets a good facelift every few years but LINUX is updated almost 3 times a year. that is cause more freeware programers are working than the hand few at microsoft. also it works great and is free, or very cheap. i say home software should never cost more than $150. so i say freeware is very good and i am glad to have it. even more happy with it due to the local news about winXP

[læmænt]

windows only gets a good facelift every few years but LINUX is updated almost 3 times a year.

A lot more often, actually.

[Lüt]

who’s living in Silicon Valley

Penny-pinching bastards.

As so many of you people are unaware, a lot of us regular citizens DO need every last penny we can find to stay alive.

[Jive]

Hey men!
I want money for my site DLW

I have hardly worked on it and It will be normal to have some money! Plus I have spend money to make it: anti-virus, Web Expert 5, Modem ADSL, cramps...

Muhahahahahaha...!!!

F R E E S H A R E G I F T F R I E N D S H I P

[fodders]

Penny-pinching bastards

...see. this does not jell with your 1st post,

so just wanted to hear your opinion

...you do not JUST want to "hear" our opinion, do you? Seems that if it isn't what you want to hear, it's wrong

[deep]

The "penny pinching bastards" comment was a JOKE guys, relax. Geez.

I should add that many programmers do not get motivation from money at all,

Many programmers get motivation from money:) The terms "most", "many" "some" are qualifiers that easily fit a variety of subjects to suit any purpose.

For example, "Many Doom players look at porn in their spare time." So not only are you penny pinching bastards but you are also a bunch of dirty bastards (a joke fodder).

[læmænt]

I should add that many programmers do not get motivation from money at all,

Many programmers get motivation from money:)

Both statements are true. I don't see any contradiction or any distortion of truth.

[fodders]

Ahhh Deep = stupid?

[Sharessa]

"Many Doom players look at porn in their spare time."

Umm...I think you mean "All Doom players look at porn in their spare time." Because its true.

[Katgut]

"Many Doom players look at porn in their spare time."

Umm...I think you mean "All Doom players look at porn in their spare time." Because its true.

I don't have any spare time - DDR took it all away.

But I don't play Doom much anymore.

[Sharessa]

I don't have any spare time - DDR took it all away.

ROFL

[fodders]

I don't look at porn, after so long it's boring, but perhaps some should visit do not let my mom find out :)