December 5th, 2007
Your best work for a chance at cash and prizes
The headline above is incredibly snarky. I apologize for it.
But there’s a serious point to be made concerning Simon Phipps’ announcement of a multi-year program of cash and prizes aimed at spurring open source development around Sun-run projects.
That point being your motivation.
Why do you contribute to open source projects? Whether you’re a committer or just a beta-tester, what motivates you?
Is it idealism? Is it altruism? Does it make a great pick-up line in bars? Is it your job? Is it commercial advantage? Or is it a chance to impress someone with the cash to make your life better, like Simon Phipps?
Phipps is making the right move, announcing this initiative in Bangalore, India tomorrow, at FOSS.India.
“I’m announcing it in India because that’s where I expect the greatest open source community growth to come from in the near future,” he writes. “If we can play a part in catalyzing the emergence of India as a key international open source power-house, the effect on the software industry will be huge.”
No doubt. I’m also certain shows like The Next Iron Chef, Project Runway and American Idol are good at bringing new talent along.
But however much the contestants benefit, the sponsors benefit far more. Kelly Clarkson will never have the fortune Simon Cowell has. (That’s why I put his picture at the top of this post.)
I guess my point is that in the end contests like this re-establish proprietary business relationships that open source seeks to tear down. Maybe they’re as natural as predator and prey. Maybe I’m just being a Scrooge.
So anyway, India, come on down! You’re the next contestant on The Code is Right. Your host is Simon Phipps.
Cue the applause.
UPDATE: Nokia announced the winners of its own open source coding contest today. The winner, in Bangkok, was Mobitubia, a mobile Flash player. Sittiphol Phanvilai received $10,000 in cash, half the total prize fund.
Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist for 30 years, a tech freelancer since 1983. You can follow Dana on Twitter. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 12/06/07
