Re:Bill Gates' Open Letter to Hobbyists
by chriseppstein on Friday October 16, 2009 @04:44PM
(#886139)
I've heard of a few companies that have this prerequisite, but only a few. I think open source contributions can tip the scales if you're up against a bunch of great candidates, but I don't think the business world works like you make it sound. In fact, I know lots of companies would actually shy away from open source contributors.
Re:Bill Gates' Open Letter to Hobbyists
by DarkShikari on Friday October 16, 2009 @04:45PM
(#886141)
I know lots of companies would actually shy away from open source contributors.
That's great--a perfect way to filter out companies that I would never want to work for.
Re:Bill Gates' Open Letter to Hobbyists
by falsestprophet on Friday October 16, 2009 @05:01PM
(#886161)
I know lots of companies would actually shy away from open source contributors.
Which companies? Why do you think they do?
I interviewed with one. A .NET web development studio, can't remember who specifically. They called the stuff I did "open-sourcy" and I could tell they looked down on it. I think it's the perception that cheap programmers use cheap tools, produce cheap code and are low quality.
I see a significant difference between the .Net and Java developer cultures. It would be hard for me to believe that a Java shop would behave according to your description.
Re:Bill Gates' Open Letter to Hobbyists
by DarkShikari on Friday October 16, 2009 @04:21PM
(#886103)
What hobbyist can put 3-man years into programming, finding all bugs, documenting his product and distribute for free?
This statement also sounds much more ironic from today's perspective, when there are thousands of open source projects that literally run off this concept.
let's rephrase that a bit:
What hobbyist can put 3-man years into programming, finding all bugs, documenting his product and distribute for free for a living?
Your rephrasing doesn't make any sense. Bill Gates wants to convince people that hobbyism can't create good software, and he needs the money. Why should the audience (pirates) care about whether hobbyists make a living, as long as they get their software?
I was replying to a misconception that somehow today thousands of open source contributors can make a living by simply being that. That's not the case with 99% of open source developers I know.
That is exactly how I took it, and it stands today.
One who sold his startup, or has a big enough 401K, and feels like changing the world instead of making more money.
It's not a hobby if you intend to make a living.
You can make a living out of hobby. But that's not how most open source developers make a living.
they found all the bugs??
but seriously, gates continues to maintain the fiction that open source = hobbyists not getting paid.
This letter was written quite some time ago, it's certainly not an attack on open source never mind a continuing one :p
Now, this is practically a prerequisite for getting a job at a good company.