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diff --git a/content/posts/you-are-forbidden-from-innovating-here.md b/content/posts/you-are-forbidden-from-innovating-here.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f64ed4 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/posts/you-are-forbidden-from-innovating-here.md @@ -0,0 +1,52 @@ +--- +title: "You Are Forbidden From Innovating Here" +date: 2020-11-12T09:12:55-05:00 +draft: false +tags: [free-software, software, technology, web, internet, social-media] +description: "Since the creation of the Web, there has been an incredible burst of innovation, that still continues today. In contrast ..." +--- + +### When was the last time you heard of someone creating an innovative technology built on top of the Web? + +Since the creation of the Web, there has been an incredible burst of innovation, +that still continues today. In contrast, when was the last time you heard of +someone innovating on top of Facebook? Maybe you have watched some talk from an +engineer at Facebook about technology they created to overcome some problem they +ran into, but that's about it. Innovation on top of Facebook's technology, occurs +at Facebook. If you do not make it past the interview process at Facebook, you +are **not allowed to innovate**. + +You might have a great idea for how Facebook could better suite your needs, and +even the skills to implement it given the opportunity. Should Facebook deem you +"unworthy" of hiring however, it is often *illegal* for you to implement your +changes. + +This is a disaster. The hiring team at Facebook should not have the power to +decide who has the right to innovate. Free Software is essential because it +grants you permission to innovate and create new things with the things you +already have. + +I believe many people understand the situation backwards. They think proprietary +software is a necessary evil because it drives innovation. The opposite is true +though: proprietary software leeches off the innovation done by Free Software +that had been created before it, and that it is built on top of. Facebook would +not have been possible had the Web not been created as a Free protocol for +anyone to use and build on top of. + +A tangible example of this is Android versus iOS. Let's say I wanted to build my +own smart phone right now, and sell it for a profit. I can use the Android +operating system on the device, and even make changes to Android to make it +better suite how I expect the device to be used. I wouldn't need to special +permission to do this, and my clients would benefit from having access to the +existing ecosystem of applications. In contrast, it is illegal to manufacture +and sell a device with iOS installed on it, without the permission of Apple. +That's why there are many companies that manufacture devices using Android, +such as Samsung, LG, Sony, Google, etc. and Apple is the only company that sells +devices running iOS. + +--- + +In short, the history of technology is a continuous stream of innovation, built +upon previous technologies. Companies have been allowed to become the gatekeepers +of innovation in the name of profit. Using Free Software is not breaking the +cycle, it is allowing the cycle to continue. |