Software not Consumable [was Re: Free Infrastructure Softwar…

I'm finding this conversation interesting, and would like to make an
observation.

der.hans wrote:
> Am 03. Jan, 2005 schwätzte Trent Shipley so:
>
>
>>On Monday 2005-01-03 00:18, der.hans wrote:
>>
>><snip/>
<snip>
>>>
>>>We need something that is:
>>>
>>>* freely available to all people/organizations
>>
>>Ok.
>>
>>
>>>* has no limit on how much raw material ( such as copies of Free Software
>>>in its current state ) is available
>>
>>This is typical of all data-centric goods: information.
>
>
> Yup. We could possibly include air as a metaphor because it's generally
> not limited. Those of us in the desert know that water is limited, though.
>

I've been thinking that software is different from most other products
in that it is not consumable. This results in the lack of need for raw
material, so I think it's related to this point, but is a different way
of looking at this aspect. Nearly everything I can think of, when used,
is consumed to one degree or another. A program doesn't deteriorate with
use.

As a side note, one might even argue that a program becomes more robust
with increased use, along with active maintenance.

I think that the non-consumable aspect of software is very significant,
and am interested in what others may think about it.

<snip>
-- 
-Eric 'shubes'
"There is no such thing as the People;
  it is a collectivist myth.
  There are only individual citizens
  with individual wills
  and individual purposes."
-William E. Simon (1927-2000),
     Secretary of the Treasury (1974-1977)
  "A Time For Truth" (1978), pg. 237

---------------------------------------------------
PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings:
http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss