Is using open-source software, Marxist?

[phk]

Debate

[A18]

Only if it's not really open source.

[phk]

Note I'm using "Marxist" as a stereotypical adjective that people love.

[Blue Rectangle]

Marxist in terms of it's free?

Is watching broadcast TV or listening to the radio Marxist?  It's hard to apply Marx's economic theorys to freely distributed creative works.

[phk]

Marxist in terms of it's free?

Is watching broadcast TV or listening to the radio Marxist?  It's hard to apply Marx's economic theorys to freely distributed creative works.

As in programmers collectively deveolop the software.

[Blue Rectangle]

Marxist in terms of it's free?

Is watching broadcast TV or listening to the radio Marxist?  It's hard to apply Marx's economic theorys to freely distributed creative works.

As in programmers collectively deveolop the software.

You are using a *very* broad definition of Marxism if you claim that donated time to a project makes that project Marxist in some way.

[John Dibble]

Marxist in terms of it's free?

Is watching broadcast TV or listening to the radio Marxist?  It's hard to apply Marx's economic theorys to freely distributed creative works.

As in programmers collectively deveolop the software.

You are using a *very* broad definition of Marxism if you claim that donated time to a project makes that project Marxist in some way.

Indeed. Further, a company that charges for its products develops them collectively within itself - you won't find many software companies that have only one person developing software.

[David S]

No.

[J. J.]

Marxist in terms of it's free?

Is watching broadcast TV or listening to the radio Marxist?  It's hard to apply Marx's economic theorys to freely distributed creative works.

As in programmers collectively deveolop the software.

We collectively create this community.

[Alcon]

Unless you are taking the open-source software from people and giving an exactly the same quantity of open-source software back, except for giving a ridiculous amount to a group of people or a person, open source is not Communism.

[Inverted Things]

Depends on the reason. If you listen to Richard Stallman, you can certainly make that case. I love Stallman, I really do, but he's about the most ideological guy you'll ever find. I just use Linux because it causes me fewer hassles than propietary software. The open source aspect is just a bonus.