What is the incentive to maintain something that is free (in both senses of that word)? Even if it is just out of the kindness of their heart, is that even a kind thing for them?
Most open source projects are people who have dumped their unfinished project online, but it's hard to know whether or not it is finished until you use it, or worse, use it for a long time and find the gaping holes.
And without being paid, there is the issue that the maintainer doesn't work on the important things, since there is a lack of (price) signal to state what to work on.
The main problem for me is maintainability. There is a graveyard of FOSS because of hastily made hobby software that is not maintainable.
The recent Winamp fiasco is a textbook example.
What is the incentive to maintain something that is free (in both senses of that word)? Even if it is just out of the kindness of their heart, is that even a kind thing for them?
Most open source projects are people who have dumped their unfinished project online, but it's hard to know whether or not it is finished until you use it, or worse, use it for a long time and find the gaping holes.
And without being paid, there is the issue that the maintainer doesn't work on the important things, since there is a lack of (price) signal to state what to work on.
maintainability is for others and self.