Every now and then, I like to check in on some blogs from people whose ideas are completely contrary to mine just so I can keep my perspective in check. It makes for some interesting reading most of the time, and sometimes it really illustrates the point about how much some people are suffering from tunnel vision. I’m the same way in a lot of areas, I’m sure, but I try to keep an open mind all the same.
Anyway, there’s this one blog I checked out on a semi-regular basis called Coding Horror. Near as I can tell, the author is a heavy .NET user and advocate, but not so much an MS apologist. He does talk about coding styles and philosophy now and then which I find interesting. Up until today’s post, I didn’t realize how little he thought of open source software. That’s a good thing, though. That’s the kind of antagonism I’m looking for to help me broaden my own viewpoints.
His latest post is a rip on Eric Raymond’s article, How to Ask Questions the Smart Way.
Now, in all fairness, I do agree with him (the blog author) on a few points. Eric’s FAQ is long. Newbies probably wouldn’t find it on their own. I still don’t see how he comes to the conclusion from that it somehow “speaks volumes about the difficulty the open source community has had delivering usable software.” That’s just trolling, man.
Really — what is the only difference between closed and open software? That’s right, one is open, one is not. Let’s keep it simple, here. So with that simple difference, how can one assume such sweeping changes would take place between the two? All software suffer from the same maladies, regardless of the licensing scheme. There is some great commercial software, and some horrific shareware. Same with open source. Just because it’s open doesn’t make it magically better quality. I don’t think anyone in their right mind has ever made that contention. As a result, I summarily reject his opinion that closed source software is equally any better.
Alas, I’m preaching to the choir though, and not likely to say anything profound or new that anyone hasn’t heard before, so I’ll just stop.
Steve,
Dude, I totally hear you, man. There are great versions of both types of software. I think that amongst the *mature* software, you will see more of a standardization in closed-source software, because one entity controls how it works. However, I think you will see an overall higher grade of performance in the open source because of how many people have access to improving it. However, in the final scheme of things, go with whatever fits all of the following:
1) Fills your requirements.
2) You know how to use well.
3) Is the most economical solution (if you are not made out of money, like most of us aren’t).
If that is open source, great. If it isn’t, great. Go with what works, that you know how to use, that isn’t going to cost your first born to acquire.