10/ If we want to see software ...
10/ If we want to see software built with better principles, we can't criticize businesses for wanting to make money. Profit is not evil.
Ben Werdmuller
Ben Werdmuller helps leaders at newsrooms, non-profits, and mission-driven organizations to navigate their biggest technology challenges.
9/ A sustainable, respectful business is one ...
9/ A sustainable, respectful business is one that can grow non-linearly based on its products, while not exploiting its users.
8/ Creating a paid-for add-on to commoditized ...
8/ Creating a paid-for add-on to commoditized software is not sustainable, because the primary product is still commoditized.
7/ Even in enterprise, the value of ...
7/ Even in enterprise, the value of open source is often "freedom from recurring licensing" - i.e., a devalued product.
@adammathes Exactly!
@adammathes Exactly!
6/ Known's business is support and hosted ...
6/ Known's business is support and hosted services like Pro and Convoy, not the open source platform.
5/ Therefore, open software has to be ...
5/ Therefore, open software has to be a by-product, not the core focus of, a business.
4/ The core people who are attracted ...
4/ The core people who are attracted by open software are exactly the people who won't pay for your products or services.
3/ "Open" is not a selling point. ...
3/ "Open" is not a selling point. You are always competing on the product, not on your principles.
2/ Not charging for a product doesn't ...
2/ Not charging for a product doesn't lower the support burden or cost to produce, putting open startups in a very hard place.
@tef I'm actually not so into dinghies. ...
@tef I'm actually not so into dinghies. But the name appeals to me a lot.
Two years of being on the #indieweb
For the last two years, I haven't directly posted a single tweet on Twitter, a single post on Facebook or LinkedIn, or a photo on Flickr. Instead, I publish on my own site at werd.io, and syndicate to my other services. If Flickr goes away, I keep