Re: Why open source software is more secure

[zenmasterbob123 () gmail com]

My first thought as I read this was that Sapran doesn't understand macroeconomics, free enterprise, and the effect of 
market forces on software development.  Secure software sells.  Businesses are willing to pay a lot more money for 
something that they percieve will cause them less headache over time.

But on the other hand, Sapran does grasp microeconomics.  Individual people are cheap.  They will buy something that 
they think they need, but they will buy it for the low low price if £3.50 if they can, in spite of the fact that it has 
holes the size of Wembley Stadium.  This is especially true of something that does something that they can't see, like 
antivirus software.

So if we are really going to have this discussion again, let's turn it on its side.  What motive does the Open Source 
developer have to make a secure product?  or more to the point, what motivation does the Open Source developer have 
that the commercial developer does not also have?  Honor?  Pride?  Reputation?  Those exist on both sides of the 
ledger.  I postulate that the only difference between the two is that the commercial developer has the additional 
motivation of profit.

Also, Marx was an utter fool who had no understanding of human nature, but that is a discussion for another list.  }8-)