[TriLUG] Steam says that two percent of its users are now on Linux

[John Vaughters]

You two are talking about different aspects of open source.  I would like to butt in here and highlight this subtle difference, and suggest that you're both correct.

John is talking about how companies leverage open source to create something larger than they ever could alone.  They are standing on the shoulders of giants.  This is the BSD/Apache philosophy.  Use the code, enjoy, be happy, and you don't have to worry about giving away any of your secrets.  This is exactly what Wes Shields was talking about in his 2010-07-08 talk at TriLUG ("Why Linux is Bad for Business").

Brandon is talking about SHARING contributions to open source. This is more of a GPL philosophy.  Use the source, but if you improve on it, share and share alike.

Both of you have nailed your respective points right on the head. But you're talking about two slightly different aspects of open source.  These two ends of the sharing spectrum have always been at odds with one another.

Thanks to both of you for sharing.

-- # Alan Porter

I agree Alan, we have a skewed conversation going on here. Two lines that never intersect, but both right.
 
Thanks for interjecting.