Development quotes of the week

My theory is this: our average bus factor is one. I don't have any hard evidence to back this up, no hard research to rely on. I'd love to be proven wrong. I'd love for this to change.

But unless economics of technology production change significantly in the coming decades, this problem will remain, and probably worsen, as we keep on scaffolding an entire civilization on shoulders of hobbyists that are barely aware their work is being used to power phones, cars, airplanes and hospitals.

It certainly seems that companies promote contribution to their projects as a way of getting hired: if you do enough interning or auditioning, eventually they might reward you with a position. In communications I have had, such things have been implied, suggested or even actually stated: keep up with your efforts and maybe there is an opportunity to be had.

You don't have to be a prize-winning economist to realise that with enough people wanting to get ahead, there is little incentive for that reward to be granted. The eager brushing off of volunteer effort is also a familiar story in the Free Software realm amongst organisations and projects alike.