I'm sorry, but this is an utterly idiotic opinion. You're attacking developers who have nothing at all to do with your grievances.

Now, I do agree with you that funding funneled through a middleman always deviates toward what that middleman expects. Foundation-based funding is problematic on so many levels, and direct financial support definitely makes much more sense.

But back to your actual point: Writing code is expression. It's equivalent to free speech, and because of that, you're fundamentally wrong to dictate what or how anyone else should express themselves.

Sure, plenty of developers are dicks. Fine—then don't use their software. Don't buy it. Don't download it. If it's FOSS, fork it. The sky is the limit!

Just stop telling others what they should or shouldn't do.

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Have you ever had a real job? You can of course express yourself in your work, but professionals get paid to serve others, not themselves. You may think that's an idiotic opinion, but join us here in reality and you may change your mind.

I try to make my IVs look beautiful and professional when I start them on patients. But ultimately, I'm being paid to start one that works and doesn't cause them more harm. They don't pay me to just do whatever I want without regard for what anyone else thinks. That's a hobby, not a profession.

This post applies to every professional (including me in healthcare). Egotistical software developers just happened to be on my mind when I wrote it.

You are basically saying: Don't do a job you don't care about. Don't become Nurse Ratchet. At that simplified level, I get your point and agree with you. But you still fundamentally misunderstand what software development actually is.

Writing code is much closer to creating art than providing nursing care. Nobody needs permission to code. Nobody needs formal credentials or degrees. Half the planet runs on code that someone wrote voluntarily, unpaid and in their own free time. Those developers don't owe you jack shit.

Once you hire a developer to work for you, then and only then can you voice your demands. Until you are paying the developer, stick with humble suggestions; or code it yourself.

And in case I didn't make it clear enough, this post is for professional software developers (hence the bits about being paid), not hobby developers. Those are two completely different things.