Reasons to provide free software

[Andy]

I am getting annoyed by the free propaganda exponents so I feel a need to expose these people...

Software is hard to write and not many people can complete the task. So why is there free software?

How long do you think it takes to write a software program?

The answer is that is takes 100's of hours. If you don't believe me, try it yourself  If you don't sleep much you can write a software program in a week.

So why would anyone sacrifice so much time to give this software away for free?

Here are some clues: they have alot of free time, they need a job as a programmer, they want to get people using their sponsors software. Sorry I couldn't think of any other reason 

[Menard]

I would guess there are several reasons for free software; several of which you mentioned.

It is a software company which makes other software which is not free. They get both name recognition and can even advertise their premium products in their freeware. MAGIX Photo Clinic is an example of a program which was released as freeware, but will occasionally show a ad for a premium product when closing the program.

The software is a pet project of the designer/programmer who feels that commercial products don't meet their needs or are too expensive and they keep their software free as a way of thumbing their noses at the big boys. IrfanView and Spybot S&D come to mind as such examples.

It was a pet project, or filled an immediate need, but the programmer never really developed it beyond that. There are many examples of freeware which fit into this category, and many buggy as well.

They are a programmer who writes small programs, or even fairly full fledged programs, largely for their own needs, but don't feel the programs warrant a cost, when compared to other programs available.

They want to rule the world but first must have all the world's computers aligned with them. What better way to do this than by giving these computers free programs. Eh...maybe not.

Someone just simply feels like giving their work away for free. I write articles, many lengthy, which I provide for free. Admittedly I did not spend 100s of hours on them, but at least several hours. They do provide a bonus to me in two ways: they provide material I can farm out to other sites to promote my own; and it is something I have contributed somewhere.

Just a few possibilities.

[SensoVision]

Andy, don't measure the world taking yourself as a model...
There are such examples as you've mentioned but Menard is right, there are people who simply wrote software for their own needs and share with others, some just like to have fame and some just wish to give their work for free and I'm one of them probably. Not going to boast of things I've did myself but I've did various things for free including programming of small office helping applications not asking for credits or money and refused from reward just because I didn't feel that taking money would be right thing, I've did it to help someone not to become reach...
So I feel that your statements is unfair to developers who offer free software, especially if you use it yourself...

[donecweb]

You said it right Denis.

[Andy]

Apart from Menard, maybe you guys should loosen up a bit?

[donecweb]

We are allready quite loose with every thing except our wallets and money. We are so loose in fact we let a lot of money making opportunities slip away when we are promoting free stuff.