Frithjof Engel wrote:
I think this will lead to worse software, because it
shifts the focus from
"writing good software" to "making money/win the game". There have
been
several studies in the past on this topic:
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/motivation.html
This is well-known study, but it has a week point.
They state, "Creativity and intrinsic interest diminish if task is done
for gain" but actually the only things they can compare are
* people doing open software for fun and entertainment; and
* people who are employees and have to develop the uninteresting parts
of software as part of their job.
The study does not take into account the possibility of "paid
volunteers", because there have been few such systems in the past.
If someone wants to do uninteresting programming for money, they can get
a better pay at a real job. A Bazaar-like system like the one I'm
proposing is different: payment provides motivation to get involved, but
developers would still be working on the things they personally find
interesting. Hence, I believe, "creativity and intrinsic interest" will
be preserved.
Timwi