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Re:When free software isn't practically superior (2015) by alexilliamson on Thursday December 17, 2020 @04:21PM (#25460619)
What's your favorite such example?
Re:When free software isn't practically superior (2015) by Arnt on Thursday December 17, 2020 @04:48PM (#25460947)
I know at least four quite different examples. But they share one trait: They're quiet, softspoken, avoid controversy on internet forums. I won't name any of them.

One uses low pricing, is likable, and provides a fine list of enterprise features. The HN crowd will realise that these features are really different ways of describing a very small amount of code. But if you want to spend your employer's money and don't care to spoil that by telling your managers too much, the list is fine. Engineers who like the likable make money be spent.

One writes per-customer code on top of largely the same body of code, and charges very high prices, largely because they clearly know how to get stuff done using that code. They have the references to prove it, and they wrote the code, and the customers accept that they invoice customers for improvements to the free base too.

One uses a technique I don't understand at all. It's different from the other three, and it works. I mention it to say that the other three aren't an exhaustive list.

The fourth targets nontechnical customers and sell SaaS, I don't know the price level. You can git-clone the code and selfhost if you want, they'll be friendly but not helpful. If you make a PR on github they'll at least look at it.

Re:When free software isn't practically superior (2015) by DoctorNick on Thursday December 17, 2020 @06:22PM (#25461834)
...why wouldn't you name any of them?
Re:When free software isn't practically superior (2015) by whatshisface on Thursday December 17, 2020 @06:31PM (#25461895)
The first one sounds like the commenter knows that their boss would cancel the contract if they realized what was going on, so the parent is taking careful steps to avoid talking about what they don't want their boss to discover.
Re:When free software isn't practically superior (2015) by Arnt on Friday December 18, 2020 @04:54AM (#25465539)
Because there are quite a few quarrelsome, overly opinionated, arrogant people on HN.
Re:When free software isn't practically superior (2015) by rriepe on Thursday December 17, 2020 @07:20PM (#25462282)
It's called the chilling effect. The most 'chilling' thing about it is that it's entirely rational.