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8.9.2004
Converging Software Models
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The Mozilla Foundation, which supports the popular and much-praised open source browser, has announced that it will give $500 prizes to users who identify and report security vulnerabilities in the software.
It is an interesting development, on several related grounds.
First, it undermines the oft-trumpeted claim that open source software is superior because legions of volunteers will eagerly spend time looking for bugs. Open source software, it turns out, is subject to the iron law of the universe that if you want to convince people to do something, cash is often the most persuasive argument.
Second, the program -- indeed, the very creation of the Mozilla Foundation in July 2003 -- is also a recognition that producing quality software requires significant and continuing investment of resources. (The foundation is funded by $2 million from America Online, by contributions from such other industry players as Red Hat and Sun, and by a personal contribution of $300K from Mitch Kapor, who made a fortune from Lotus 1-2-3.)
Third, it provides an illustration of the principle that open source and proprietary software are alternative business models, not alternative modes of production. Open source software depends on companies that see value in providing software as a platform for additional products or as an add-on to make other products more useful. Proprietary companies sell software directly. Neither approach can claim moral superiority.
And finally, nothing would prevent a proprietary company from offering bounties, and thus enlisting the energies of the programming community at large. As many have pointed out, open source and proprietary software seem to be converging, with each mode borrowing from the other as necessary.
posted by James DeLong : 8/9/2004 03:02:05 PM
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