Free software is a gift economy

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planted: 30/12/2021last tended: 30/12/2021

Not sure I agree with this claim or not. I like free software and I like gift economies so I'd be fine if it was a good one.

But part of me feels like it's actually more communist (from each according to their ability, to each according to their need). Gift economies as I understand it have some expectation of (delayed) reciprocity that I'm not sure exists in free software.

Note that this doesn't necessary claim that free software is exclusively a gift economy. Different projects could be different types of exchange systems.

See

for some places to possibly dig in to this.

1. Epistemic status

Type
claim
Gut feeling
4
Confidence
2

2. Elsewhere

2.1. In my garden

Notes that link to this note (AKA backlinks).

2.3. Mentions

Recent changes. Source. Peer Production License.