OSS, SABRINA: Paranoia [1108.1998]

[[ Opensource ]] software is taking up more and more of my thought time lately. In January, I plan to start moving full speed on Sabrina, my opensource AI chatbot. I think I can actually pull off the trick of creating an intelligent, english speaking program like HAL or the robot from Short Circuit.

The problem is that I don't have the time, or the knowhow, or the money to handle the business side of it. And if I did, then what? I make millions licensing the technology to big investors? Who benefits from that, besides me? So I want to just give it away. Create a whole new industry. Bot trainers.

It makes me wonder, though. Other people will want in. That's good. How can I make the other people in the game my friends? Commercial software has competition. I think OSS needs a lot of little groups cooperating. Heck, that's how sabrina's going to work anyway.

You know, if I did go commercial, I'd have to hire all kinds of people to help me develop the software, do marketing, etc. But with "competition".. Well, other people would all be pushing my product. And contributing to make it better. I could stay small - work by myself if I wanted. I wouldn't need a staff, an office, etc. I could get rich making a lot less money, and have plenty of time left over for other things.

I feel a longer, formal essay coming on.

(html doodle inspired by freshmeat.net, an OSS announcement site)