Open-source software is a key driver for small business in the U.S. and contributes an enormous amount to the economy, perhaps to the tune of $1 trillion in economic output.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The open-source community creates tremendous value for the U.S. economy, driving small and midsize businesses (SMBs) and empowering entrepreneurs, according to a top open-source supporter.
At the O’Reilly Open Source Convention 2012 (OSCON) here, Tim O’Reilly, founder of O’Reilly Media, exhorted open-source developers to “work on stuff that matters” and to create more value than you capture.” Indeed, this was O’Reilly’s mantra in a talk, entitled “The Clothesline Paradox: How Sharing Economies Create Value.” O’Reilly lauded open-source developers for helping make the economy better while also creating a richer, fairer world.