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Brazil (Linux Journal)
Nicholas Petreley finds
an allegory for the world of free software in the movie "Brazil".
"The world depicted in a different movie, "Brazil", is similar to
that of Matrix in that it is governed by controlling
self-interest. Freedom, as in free speech, is a partial cure for
controlling self-interest, which is what makes the concept of free software
superior to any other type of software. But there's more to free software
than concept. There's implementation. And that's where free software
sometimes gets into trouble with self-interest."
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Brazil (Linux Journal) Posted Jul 14, 2006 21:46 UTC (Fri) by JoeBuck (subscriber, #2330) [Link] He's basically saying that free software tends to only advance to the point where it is usable by its designers, who then lose interest in improving it further to be more generally usable.But this is why I think that projects like One Laptop Per Child are going to help a lot. For that project to work, a lot of smart people are going to have to make free software both more usable and a lot less bloated, and there are many signs that they are making major progress.
Brazil (Linux Journal) Posted Jul 14, 2006 23:12 UTC (Fri) by uravanbob (subscriber, #4050) [Link] I think that Nicholas is missing the point of free software. When I as a developer create some piece of free software it is to scratch an itch, either mine or someone whose made it in my interest to do so. Afer all, I have a family, a house that I'm trying to remodel, and my own interests outside of teaching a computer to do magic - so when that itch is scratched to my satisfaction (or more generally to the point that I have other more pressing interests) I stop scratching. It has nothing to do with not considering that there is a larger world out there, hell, I release the source as free to allow anyone to use it to scratch their itch and/or MAKE IT IN SOMEONE'S SELF-INTEREST to develop it further.
Most of the free software developers that I've worked with as a consumer have been more than helpful in responding to specific use issues.
Brazil (Linux Journal) Posted Jul 15, 2006 4:08 UTC (Sat) by kirkengaard (subscriber, #15022) [Link] Mmmm. Freedom and self-interest are best when they work together, because the former is a manifestation of the greater self-interest of the group. Self-interest without freedom is not sustainable -- it will starve itself after consuming all available capital -- and freedom that denies the self-interest of the free is hollow group-oriented sophistry. Enlightened systems balance the two and evade Marx's 'inevitable' collapse.
Maybe it's the American Democratic Capitalism background talking, but freedom is impossible without the participation of the individual. Motivation towards participation is all about self-interest. Freedom is all about the ability to pursue one's own interest while respecting the various interests of every other self.
Free software is start-to-finish the self-interest of the participants, and it works because the freedoms enforced by the GPL enable the exercise of any interest, by any recipient, as long as that exercise perpetuates the next person's ability to so exercise their interest. Projects die or go dormant as a result of lost interest; projects live as a result of confluent interest. Freedom enabling self-interest enabling freedom enabling self-interest ...
The author is, however, correct in that it comes down to control. Rigid, centralized control enables a very specific set of interests, at the expense of a broader set. However, this is controlling self-interest bent towards exclusion of outside interests. The controlling self-interest in the GPL is controlling towards the end of universal exercise of interest, with the exception of the previous, exclusionary sort. The controlling interest in many projects may be towards some ideal or goal or itch, and may become exclusionary in terms of other itches of goals or ideals (or ideas) -- see the BSDs. This is different by scope.
What the author doesn't seem to get is that his proposition is merely his own self-interest, which may well be the interest of many others, which is an itch towards greater universal usability, better interface design, and 'intuitive' control. That's my little bit of irony for the day: a blogger hoist with his own petard.
Brazil (Linux Journal) Posted Jul 15, 2006 12:16 UTC (Sat) by sdalley (subscriber, #18550) [Link] > Free software is start-to-finish the self-interest of the participants.
You may speak for some, but not for all. With some of us, there is also the desire to help our neighbor, not for our own sake, but for theirs. (Do I dare use the word "love " here?) To be sure, it's a joy when it succeeds, but it's not the primary motivation.
Brazil (Linux Journal) Posted Jul 15, 2006 14:23 UTC (Sat) by fjf33 (subscriber, #5768) [Link] Isn't that just another form of self interest? I guess is more self gratification.
Brazil (Linux Journal) Posted Jul 15, 2006 16:24 UTC (Sat) by dark (subscriber, #8483) [Link] If you deny the very existence of the desire to help others, then of course you can conclude that everything is done out of self-interest. But then that statement no longer means anything.
Brazil (Linux Journal) Posted Jul 15, 2006 21:37 UTC (Sat) by sdalley (subscriber, #18550) [Link] Well, that's not how I have it.
Brazil (Linux Journal) Posted Jul 20, 2006 7:27 UTC (Thu) by ekj (guest, #1524) [Link] If you start by saying: "All human behaviour is self-interest".Then it's no longer an interesting observation that developing free software is often done for self-interest. If that's the case for all actions, then the statement is obvious and trivial.
smoke and mirrors Posted Jul 17, 2006 5:25 UTC (Mon) by filteredperception (guest, #5692) [Link] I'll have some of what that guy was smoking.
It's amazing how certain substances combined with the human brain (or often the human brain by itself) can make sense of even the most tenuous of associations.
Brazil was an all-time classic movie, and it was hilarious in an "I thought I'd never see the day" kind of way when I saw a reference on LWN.
But if you want a much better allegorical connection, equally entertaining in any chemically imbalanced state, I say go for the movie TRON and the relation to the SELinux project (WRT to the MCP specifically). Even this guys tenuous connection as to whether software meets the needs of the end-user, is much better suited to the TRON allegory.
Not to mention Real Genious if you want an allegory as to what the motivating factors in technological development are really about.
Again- Brazil- Great movie. Allegory for free software- only if you've been partaking of association enhancing substances. Seriously, with or without extra chemicals, go read up on SELinux or developer/corporate (non)appreciation for end-users, and then watch TRON.
-fps
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