Open source isn't a soup kitchen

Yesterday I wrote a post about what does (or does not) qualify as an open source startup. There is something I think is worth clarifying, however: Open source startups are not somehow morally superior to closed source startups. I don’t personally buy that open sourcing code — or even creating a thriving community — that helps enterprised ship code faster or avoid downtime or whatever is actually making the world a better place.

Aside: I’ll buy the ‘better place’ argument for companies like Ethyca and many security companies, who are protecting consumers’ privacy and personal information. It’s just that helping big corporations make even more money (this is ultimately what many projects are about!) is not high on my list of ‘things that make the world a better place.’

At the end of the day, deciding to be an open source startup is a business strategy. I’ve spoken with founders who are motivated by shame to be open source (ie, they feel like it would be impossible to stand up on a stage and talk about a company that does not have an open source project). Ideally, I think the decision to be an open source company should be made because of concrete, strategic advantages that open source brings, given your industry.

If you’ve taken venture funding, you are a commercial venture. Your goal is to build a company that’s profitable. Open source can be part of that. But there’s no reason to look down on closed-source companies.