What are the real motivations for writing code?

Expression: I write code for myself. The code is public just because I like Open Source, not because I care about users.

Ego: I like being the (benevolent) dictator. Users are here to admire my project, my code and they should be thankful for my brilliance.

People pleasing: I write code, fix bugs, add features, because I like the idea that my software makes someone’s life better. If that’s not happening, I burn out.

Money: I write code because it makes economic sense. I can feed my family. It does not matter if the money comes from sales, donations, employment, or grants.

So tell me, for which one of those motivations does working under pressure, or getting shamed for dropping a project, actually work?

And the beauty of Open Source: anyone can pick up a great or even a not-so-great project and work on it.