Comment by chii | Hacker News Reader

Comment by chii | Hacker News Reader

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> open source project used in radiation therapy clinics

If the software is something you yourself is using because you needed it (or is already capturing the value sufficiently), then opensourcing it is a no brainer.

However, if the software is being written, but not being used by you, then it doesn't really make sense to opensource it. The value being created by the software would then be captured by those who would otherwise have had to pay. This value should instead be captured by you, and that should then pay for the improvements. Eventually, when you decide to stop or when you feel you've made enough money and want to move on - then opensourcing it makes sense.

> The value being created by the software would then be captured by those who would otherwise have had to pay

You mean potentially sick people that might not have access to this diagnosis if the software was not open source? Some times Open Source and co is just to help others! Not everything is profit-motivated :)

Not on the diagnostic side in this case but yes, open sourcing was both to help other cancer centres manage their QC data better and operate more efficiently as well as an attempt to attract others to contribute to the project.

The original poster was commenting on trying to obtain revenue from the open source product of their creation. You are right that sometimes things are just to help others, but its meaningless here unless we are strictly talking about the initial creation and not the continued support of it as the poster is now trying to monetize it.

Not that either is bad or good, but you're having your cake and eating it too.

I mostly agree with you. However, I wrote it (and we released it) while I was working full time at a large Canadian cancer centre (and we really needed it!). I have stayed involved with it as a "hobby" for the last few years with the goal of being able to eventually generate enough income from the project to support myself full time.

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