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This is such a weird argument, beside obvious #10 which will bite back with a vengeance, because... code can't be cheaper than free!

Since at least the early 80s a LOT of very important code wasn't cheap, it was free. Both free of cost (you could "just" download it and run it) but also free as freedom-respecting software.

I just don't get the argument that cheap is new. Cheap is MORE expensive than free!



Re: personalized software via vibe coding

Free but you're responsible for maintaining it means it's not free. It's the same issue as maintaining your own fork. It's just an ongoing cost.

(Though as AI becomes autonomous enough to be the maintainer, that cost kind of goes away. Then it's just the cost of managing the "dev".)


Related recent discussion https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48005809 including distinction between your/our software




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