> 100% GPL software, from what would software developers live from?
As usual, from their craft, the software development. GPL-everything scenario doesn't mean there won't be need to develop software anymore.
It is quite usual to be paid to hack upon FLOSS code. Neither it seem too weird to be paid to write new FLOSS projects. A customer needs a solution and has money, an engineer has skills and needs money.
The only downside (or upside, depending on point of view) is that developers won't be able to make $0.99-priced apps unless they really make it in mere minutes of their time. They'll have to raise funding using some form of threshold pledge system.
As usual, from their craft, the software development. GPL-everything scenario doesn't mean there won't be need to develop software anymore.
It highly depends on the category and user. Outside crowd funding, no one will pay for the development of a game if there is no return on investment.
Despite having a slight preference for FLOSS software, I also believe that whoever invests the money or time to develop a piece of software should be able to choose how they license it.
In some cases it makes sense to open source some software immediately, e.g. when there is little loss of income. Sometimes it makes sense to sell it first and open source it later (e.g. see Id's engines). Sometimes it does not make sense to make the code freely available (e.g. if it destroys the value of your company).
Does it always lead to the best outcome? Certainly not! But with freedom comes responsibility. And ethical individuals and companies will want to contribute to their community and society in ways that is possible for them.
The problem with a pledge system is that my $.99 on it's own won't make or break the project and since I'm getting the software for free anyway it's more rational to keep the money in my pocket. So you would have to impose it as some sort of tax, which has it's own problems.
On the other hand, you also know that if everyone applies the same reasoning, the project will not be completed, and your loss is probably greater than $.99.
While I don't necessarily agree with the notion that you don't get anything in return when you give away money, let's assume that it's true for the sake of the discussion.
It tends to be difficult to get people to spend money even when they do get something in return. Many charities and projects run on donations only, and while many of them fail, so do commercial projects where you pay to get "something in return". I don't think the problem has anything to do with pledge systems.
As usual, from their craft, the software development. GPL-everything scenario doesn't mean there won't be need to develop software anymore.
It is quite usual to be paid to hack upon FLOSS code. Neither it seem too weird to be paid to write new FLOSS projects. A customer needs a solution and has money, an engineer has skills and needs money.
The only downside (or upside, depending on point of view) is that developers won't be able to make $0.99-priced apps unless they really make it in mere minutes of their time. They'll have to raise funding using some form of threshold pledge system.