In the end people/companies will pick the proprietary / closed option just because “it’s easier to use” or some other specific thing that will be good on the short term and very bad on the long term.
I agree with most of the above, just wanted to relay an explanation given to me years ago by my then eng director in an argument about this. He said the reasons we tend to use proprietary / closed platforms and deps in business settings is not necessarily because the software was better or easier to work with. Clearly it often isn’t.
It’s because of (1) built-in factoring and infrastructure, (2) built-in domain expertise that would otherwise require hiring or training, and (3) contractual guarantees that can be invoked when things go wrong. All of which attenuate risk and make development timelines and outcomes more predictable.
His line was “OSS is free like a puppy is free.” That is, most businesses aren’t old enough to handle the responsibility, and that’s why we still sometimes use shitty proprietary software.
It’s because of (1) built-in factoring and infrastructure, (2) built-in domain expertise that would otherwise require hiring or training, and (3) contractual guarantees that can be invoked when things go wrong. All of which attenuate risk and make development timelines and outcomes more predictable.
Yes, I believe I also said that in some other point. I’ve been there and totally agree with him.
most businesses aren’t old enough to handle the responsibility, and that’s why we still sometimes use shitty proprietary software.
Once they become “old enough” nobody wants to personally be responsible for anything and politics and corruption get involved and you keep buying proprietary shit.
Also, once they are old enough, change is harder. It’s why all the software these days is freemium. Small companies use it as its free. Medium companies pay for it as it’s easier than using something else.
How do we break out of this path of trying to get big enough to break custom, and once you’re big enough not having the guts to test wide sweeping changes?
I agree with most of the above, just wanted to relay an explanation given to me years ago by my then eng director in an argument about this. He said the reasons we tend to use proprietary / closed platforms and deps in business settings is not necessarily because the software was better or easier to work with. Clearly it often isn’t.
It’s because of (1) built-in factoring and infrastructure, (2) built-in domain expertise that would otherwise require hiring or training, and (3) contractual guarantees that can be invoked when things go wrong. All of which attenuate risk and make development timelines and outcomes more predictable.
His line was “OSS is free like a puppy is free.” That is, most businesses aren’t old enough to handle the responsibility, and that’s why we still sometimes use shitty proprietary software.
Yes, I believe I also said that in some other point. I’ve been there and totally agree with him.
Once they become “old enough” nobody wants to personally be responsible for anything and politics and corruption get involved and you keep buying proprietary shit.
Also, once they are old enough, change is harder. It’s why all the software these days is freemium. Small companies use it as its free. Medium companies pay for it as it’s easier than using something else.
How do we break out of this path of trying to get big enough to break custom, and once you’re big enough not having the guts to test wide sweeping changes?