Is open-source software the answer?

摘要

Open-source software has been an enigma to many commentators. Economists, for example, have pondered why any rational person would invest time and energy developing computer programs in order to make them freely copyable and modifiable, when developing proprietary software seems so much more likely to be lucrative. Are there reputational advantages or improved prospects for subsequent consulting gigs that might explain these otherwise irrational investments?