I think Free code is quite unlike garbage, in that most Free software devs do somewhat hope their code will be useful or enjoyable to somebody, right?
Garbage is explicitly refuse, you don’t expect anyone will find it useful at all. The raccoons are a nuisance — we actually go to great lengths in some cases to make sure they can’t check out the garbage! People sifting through your garbage are probably up to no good.
I think is hard to make an analogy between Free software and a physical thing because most physical things are finite and can’t be copied for free.
Maybe Free software is more like a dance — you do your dance to for yourself, and to impress your friends maybe (or maybe as exercise, or some other motivation). You don’t mind if someone copies your dance. You might even help your friends learn it. But you clearly have no obligation to help strangers learn it, and no responsibility if they get hurt trying to do it.
I think Free code is quite unlike garbage, in that most Free software devs do somewhat hope their code will be useful or enjoyable to somebody, right?
Garbage is explicitly refuse, you don’t expect anyone will find it useful at all. The raccoons are a nuisance — we actually go to great lengths in some cases to make sure they can’t check out the garbage! People sifting through your garbage are probably up to no good.
I think is hard to make an analogy between Free software and a physical thing because most physical things are finite and can’t be copied for free.
Maybe Free software is more like a dance — you do your dance to for yourself, and to impress your friends maybe (or maybe as exercise, or some other motivation). You don’t mind if someone copies your dance. You might even help your friends learn it. But you clearly have no obligation to help strangers learn it, and no responsibility if they get hurt trying to do it.