One of the most common misconceptions about open source software (OSS) is that the market lacks sustainability. The argument goes something like this: a team of OSS developers who ‘sell’ their product to users for little or no cost will eventually fall apart as they see their peers becoming financially successful by adopting a more commercial approach. Proponents of this view argue that inevitable economic market forces essentially negate the sustainability of the open source market.
Fortunately for open source enthusiasts, both logical argument and historical evidence contradict the “lack-of-sustainability” theory.
The Test of Time
Many people hold the notion that open source projects will generally fade away when confronted with large commercial opponents. However, while market pressures can and do play a role in the OSS community (see next section), history shows us that OSS projects are surprisingly durable and resilient – perhaps more so than their proprietary counterparts.
For example, while the fate of commercial software is almost inextricably tied to the fate of its parent development company, open-source applications have a life of their own. When a commercial product’s company goes defunct or is “bought out,” the product is also likely to be scrapped or shredded into pieces for use in other applications. OSS, on the other hand, is not bound to any particular person or entity, though it is typically supported by a core group of programmers and innovators. If the original developers give up on a project, it is perfectly possible for users to jump in and fill the gap.