First of all, I need to clarify that Trustware, as it is in my personal
vision, isn't fully published and made known yet.
Consider my remarks as more detailed information about it.

> One problem with the trustware model is that you are going to have
> programmers who have no incentive to work on it in full knowledge
> that the person heading this is going to make money directly with
> the software while they don't make a dime of it.

I thought that is how Open Source worked?

Trustware, as fully implemented, isn't this way at all. I'm still trying to
work into that. That is why I am trying to gain support and recognition to
it.

> With Open
> Source, there are other incentives for programmers to work on the
> code. The big incentive for Open Source is that the programmers
> have something which they can work with the capabilities they
> need.

Trustware has just the same advantages and more.



I think I've seeded a few of the more developed concepts here... but under
trustware, when fully implemented, contributors will get revenue. Trustware
is actually about a total voluntary system that deals with funds and
people's time. Funds make it back around to those who give of their time to
develop, distribute and support. It is accomplished at the time people
submit funds. They will "vote" for the things they most appreciated in the
product and if a certain developer was responsible for those features they
get the lion's share. A product like IBO when fully matured in the Trustware
plan as I envision it would have me as the holder of the sources receiving a
rather small portion of the revenue. Most likely just enough for all the
admin and modest profits to feed a family.

Receiving a small portion is already true of IBO when you consider all that
I do to fund/sponsor IBDI, have professional tech writing done, purchase
magazine advertising, pay developers for needed enhancements I have them do,
pay for business operating expenses, and so on. Most all of what comes in
from IBO goes back into making it a better product. It's just that right now
I am dictating where the funds will go. Under Trustware control of the funds
will transition to the community at large via a voting, peer directed
system.

As far as I can tell, Trustware is the only model where developers receive
any kind of monetary reward. And, if the licensing model really caught on,
it is the only system that actually makes it possible for them to receive
significant rewards. I don't know of a single programmer anywhere that is
getting rich being just a programmer. Yes, a nice modest wage in comfortable
middle class, but not rich. Under trustware, we could have some hot shot
programmers actually getting very, very rich, doing just programming, Not
stock options for a company that is going to burn out in a few years so
timing to jump ship is of the essence. Just programming.

In short, what Trustware is, is a virtual enterprise that omits the need for
high dollar CEO, directors, expensive marketing, legal departments,
facilities management, and so on. Its a system that puts revenue right back
to the people who deserve it. The people developing and supporting a
product. It is a system designed to run efficiently such that funds go where
they are most deserved.

Under Open Source, money (what little if any there is of it) is handled in
such a way that the programmer's wage is seriously cut away. Funds are not
going back to the programmer's. Under this system programmers are just being
made into a commodity item, just like the code they are writing. Fund's
saved by using OS stuff is going to line the pockets of the company using
them. Is all it does is deepen the bottom line for profitability and under
these circumstances do you think it is all going to be redirected into the
R&D departments? Not when Joe CEO can upgrade is Cougar and add a new wing
to his mansion instead...

As a programmer, I do not like the prospects of how Open Source is changing
the way my creative efforts are perceived. My creativity is NOT a commodity.
Mark my words, Open Source is damaging to the mindset of those who are
shelling out money to receive of the rare an beautiful talents we as
programmers offer. If nobody is going to want to spend any money to acquire
software, I'm looking for a new line of work because I have a family to
feed.

Regards,
Jason Wharton
CPS - Mesa AZ
http://www.ibobjects.com