Should You Pay for support on Linux? – Guide
Unlike Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS, Linux is not just an operating system that can power your computer. Linux is also an approach to software development: open and freely available to everyone. But considering how much time and effort is spent developing Linux, a question arose up time and time again for various organizations. How do we pay for all this? This question is then asked of you. Should you pay for Linux and in what ways would you be willing to consider?
How Linux is currently paid
Technically, there is no single operating system known as Linux. Linux is a kernel, the part of your system that allows your computer’s hardware to communicate with what you see on the screen. There is an entire ecosystem of free and open source software that is brought together to create a working desktop operating system. When someone, or an organization, bundles this software and makes it available to others, the result final is known as a Linux distribution, or “distro” for short. When most of us install Linux, we don’t pay anyone anything. We went to a Linux distribution’s website, downloaded the image file, saved it to a USB stick and used it to replace or supplement the operating system that came pre-installed on our computer. It’s hard to charge people directly for a Linux distro or open source software in general. Since anyone can view, edit and redistribute the code, this means everyone is free to make a free alternative (as in cost) to the software you are trying to sell. But there’s still a lot of money floating around in the Linux ecosystem. Here are some of the more common templates that some projects use to make money: Many projects use a combination of these different financing options. but for most home Linux users installing Linux on their own machines, unless they choose to make a donation, there is no money changing hands.
Can you pay directly for a copy of Linux?
Of course, there are people who are willing to sell you a copy of a Linux distribution. You can find installation discs on eBay, for example. Often, it’s just someone not affiliated with a project, burning the installation image to disk for you and then charging you compensation for the disk and time. If you find the process of creating your own installation media intimidating, this is an alternative way to get Linux onto your system. Although there is always some degree of risk and trust involved when obtaining third-party software. With the advent of cloud computing, there’s also the option of paying for a virtual copy of Linux that you run remotely on someone else’s machine. These are known as virtual cloud desktops, but they basically pay for an installation of Linux, but not on your own hardware. There are some Linux distros that offer paid versions directly, like Zorin OS. In such cases, you can get some additional software features pre-installed (which free users can choose to install manually if they wish) or additional support. You can also purchase Linux versions to run on the Windows for Linux subsystem, such as Fedora Remix for WSL. The most straightforward option is perhaps the same one most people buy copies of Windows and macOS for, which is to buy a computer that comes with Linux preinstalled.
What about Linux software?
While the overwhelming majority of programs available for Linux are free and open source, there is an increasing amount of proprietary software coming to the platform. You can find this type of software on Steam, Humble Bundle and the Epic Games Store. Most of them are games. You can also buy some programs directly from developer websites. And again, there’s also the AppCenter, pay what you want app store.
Should you pay for Linux?
The answer is not as straightforward as it sounds. Yes, as most of our societies are currently structured, people need to earn a salary or some other form of income in order to pay their bills. People may want to contribute more to Linux, but financial constraints pressure them to work for a company that will pay them to develop proprietary code. Creating a culture where people pay for software invites more companies to pay developers to create apps and games for Linux. On the other hand, much of what made the Linux ecosystem what it is is the way software is freely developed and shared. The expectation of payment can erode with the idea that all this code belongs equally to everyone. And it could bring more proprietary software to the operating system, creating an environment where most users can have a free operating system, but most of the apps they install are just as closed and privacy invasive as those found on Apple, Google platforms and Microsoft.
How much should you pay for Linux?
What you think of this question may also reflect how satisfied you are with the way things are. Do you already predominantly use free and open source software, most of which is made exclusively for Linux? Would you like to move to Linux, but there is a proprietary paid app you depend on that isn’t available? Do the values behind open source appeal to you, or do you simply choose Linux because you believe it offers the best experience and want to have all the same applications you would have on other platforms? How you answer these questions can determine how and how much you are willing to pay.
Final note
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