b_haughey@ccvax.ucd.ie (Brian J Haughey) (03/15/90)
Organization: University College Dublin Lines: 32 In article <2168@psuhcx.psu.edu>, c9h@ psuhcx.psu.edu (Charles M. Hannum) writes: > I think the most important thing is that *I* don't get PAID for enhancing GNU > products. A person working for GNU *does*. GNU gets grants up the wazoo to > continue their work. Even if I completely overhaul GNU CC, I wouldn't get a > SINGLE CENT for it. While that may be all fine and dandy in *your* eyes, > it's *not* in mine. Getting ABSOLUTELY NOTHING (monetary or otherwise) for my > work just doesn't appeal to me. That isn't a fair picture of the FSF. Most of the work done on GNU projects is done "free, gratis and for nothing". This covers the spectrum from GNUemacs to GAS to GNUchess etc. There are a *handful* of people working for FSF developing software, who (a) are necessary to coordinate and handle the general development of projects, and (b) only get paid a more or less subsistence allowance. [And remember the FSF is a non-profit organisation]. Most people who do work for the FSF do it because they approve of some or all of the FSF's ideals, and wish to show that appreciation by doing sonething constructive - for no better reward than the respect of their peers who will use the products that they've helped develop. So you don't like doing something for nothing, even though you would quite likely feel perfectly at ease using those same products. Sigh. So much for modern America. And no, I have absolutely no connection with the FSF [not "GNU" as you mistakenly refer to the organisation - GNU is a designation that refers to the projects, not the organisation] apart from admiring their work and that of RMS. Yours contemptuously, bjh University College Dublin, Ireland.