Free for All: How Linux and the Free Software Movement Undercut the High-Tech Titans

This famous line borrowed of course from "Star Wars" is part of the battle cry that most advocates of so-called "Open Source Software" like to use and this book further examines this phenemenon. Whether or not Microsoft regards Linux (the most famous example of open source software) as a legitimate threat is an opinion best left to anyone reading it. Free for All in the early chapters compares the "open source movement" to the "1960s era" when there were those who felt the world could be a better place just by sharing the wealth among everyone. Another intriguing comparison is how some compare "open source" to a form of "communism!"Free For All describes some of the "history" of the Open Source movement, items like BSD (and its legal battle with AT & T), how Bill Joy came to invent the Vi text editor and how Richard Stallman invented the Emacs screen editor. But it also details of course how a Finnish programmer named Linus Torvalds came to invent Linux, which Mircosoft seems to regard as some kind of "threat" to Windows. While Microsoft's share of the PC market is overwhelming (aproximately 85%), there are those opting for the "penguin" on their PC. It also opines that the open source movement may now be at a crossroads, does it get too big and start charging for its software or does it remain "free?"There's also a glossary of open source terms at the back of the book that explains to "non-techies" some of the "buzz words" of open source, something I found helpful in explaining the movement.This book is a fascinating look at how the open source software movement has and may yet continue to change how software is marketed.

I've been a professional programmer, software entrepreneur and user of free software for over 15 years. I highly recommend this book for several reasons. First, it is one of the best and most important business books I've yet read about the software industry. It presents an insightful and nuanced analysis of the economics of software creation in the Internet age and articulately explains the appeal and inevitable success of open source software. As such this is a MUST READ for anyone who manages or invests in software-based companies.Furthermore it is a delightful read. Programmers will no doubt appreciate the inside references to things like the religious "wars" between vi and emacs. At the same time, Wayner has a gift for metaphor and human detail that bring both the concepts and the players to life, and in a way that is accessible and enjoyable for both technical and non-technical readers.

Peter Wayner does an outstanding job of looking at the history of the free software movement in this thoughtful, thorough book. Unlike other books about technology that refer to freeware (free software) as an example, Wayner looks directly at the phenomenon to evaluate its significance, the potential for the future, and why it works. I was especially impressed by the way he combined perspectives: historical, competitive, psychological, user needs, financial, resource, and wealth. Each one tells you something you need to know about this important area.At first, my reaction was that this book would be only of interest to those who do not know much about freeware. Having read the whole book and thought more about it, I think the lessons here are probably just as pertinent for those who are active in the freeware movement. For Wayner is really addressing the long-term viability of what is needed to succeed. Many challenges are still ahead. For example, he notes that "the daily struggle for some form of income is one of the greatest challenges in the free source world today." These are the Minutemen of the Knowledge Age, doing other work to keep a roof over their heads and fighting for better software in all of their free time. I especially enjoyed the many profiles of people who are involved with freeware in humble, altruistic ways. In an age described by many as greedy and self-obsessed with momentary pleasures, many of these people are the sort of independent thinkers and doers who originally established the United States and made our modern lives of freedom possible. We should all salute them! The basic argument is that openly-developed freeware is an effective model for accelerating the rate of technological and human development in using data processing and electronic communications. For example, over half the Web servers run on open source software because it works better. You can create a supercomputer for $3,000 using open source freeware. The freeware model works because users draw attention faster to glitches (and bugs), and talented, caring people who are interested in solutions are drawn to creating rapid fixes. There is fame, reputation, and notoriety available for doing this free software work -- as well as tangible benefits in getting one's own tasks done faster and better. It is basically an argument based on complexity science and chaos theory, but built on the actual experiences of the software built from the original UNIX base at Berkeley and the Linux operating system. One of the intriguing contrasts that is drawn is between the Microsoft development and marketing approach and the one for freeware. This is also characterized as the suits against the nerds. Wayner also points out that many mixed models are also developing. Red Hat offers Linux for those who want some better documentation and some support for a price. Hardware makers are starting to support freeware dev

I've been following the free software movement through the popular press, trade publications, and on-line forums for several years. This book has brought together the fragmented threads of the free software story into a coherent historical account. The book serves as an excellent introduction to the ideas and personalities behind the free software movement. Those who are already familiar with the story of free software will appreciate Wayner's interviews with key players and detailed accounts of important events. The style is reminiscent of Steve Levy's "Hackers", a quick read and peppered with humor.

Peter Wayner has an uncommon skill for writing about technology. He explains the intricacies of software with exceptional clarity. His prose is compellingly readable and refreshingly humorous. This is a valuable look at the origins and development of one of the most important trends in techno-business today.