Re: How to convince a client to release Perl code to CPAN?

One thing that's worked in the past is that I have a frank conversation along two angles:

If I hadn't used the CPAN, this project would have cost you $X more money. The CPAN exists because everyone contributes a little, so that everyone saves in the long run. You're not legally obligated to return a bit of the new development based on the CPAN stuff, but I'd suggest you're ethically obligated. How about it?
If we submit the core engine of your project (but not the localized bits) to the CPAN, then there'll likely be more people making it better than just the folks in this building. This also means that you can hire others and not just me when you need updates, because other people will also understand it. And with more people understanding the technology, you'll get competitive bids from more than just me.

Usually, one or both of those is pretty convincing, from a business perspective. In fact, you could even take a moral stance on "no using from the CPAN unless I give to the CPAN", and submit two bids, one with CPAN exchange, one without.

-- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker

Comment on Re: How to convince a client to release Perl code to CPAN?

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Re^2: How to convince a client to release Perl code to CPAN? by DrHyde (Prior) on Jun 25, 2007 at 09:21 UTC
I never came across any successful business (apart from the occasional weird hippy selling vegan shoes and related foolishness) which took ethical considerations seriously. Sure, lots of them pay lip-service to it, but all they really care about is screwing as much money as possible out of people. Even nice fluffy co-operatives are all about making money for their members. If you're going to convince your boss to open your code, you need to show him how the company will benefit from doing so. Ethical considerations don't enter into it. As an employee, I approve of that. It's his job to make the company a ton of cash, and if he doesn't do his job I get smaller pay rises. As for your last paragraph - that actually means he'll get three bids, one with CPAN and one without from you, and one from someone else where the developer will take from the CPAN but not give back.	[reply]
Re^2: How to convince a client to release Perl code to CPAN? by Gavin (Archbishop) on Jun 23, 2007 at 18:16 UTC
You old smoothy you!	[reply]