Disclaimer: this post is one of those rants I’ve always wanted to write somewhere. Feel free to skip it :P
In the last decade, we’ve seen a few software ecosystem paradigms getting popular in the software industry. Possibly, there is not direct relation with politics. But somehow, I always come to the same ideas.
No model at all: anarchy
- Example: Software for Microsoft Windows.
- Developers do not need explicit permission from Microsoft to distribute their applications.
- Final users can install whatever they think it suits best to them.
Trusted software repository model: democracy
- Example: Firefox Addons.
- Developers do not need permission from anyone to distribute their Firefox addons
- Final users have several choices to install.
- Popular addons get featured into the trusted repository so more people install them.
App Store model: fascism
- Example: iPhone
- Developers need to pay Apple in order to sell in the App Store.
- Final users can install only the Apple-approved applications.
Do you differ? Feel free to comment.
