12th
Sharing is its own reward
I recently read an blog post on Appfrica.net about how the sharing of knowledge can actually be a good thing. I could identify with everything that was mentioned in that article about developers having the fear that their work or idea might be stolen and proper attributions not made. While this is indeed what actually goes on, we will never see the level of development we desire and so desparately need if we do not correct this mentality.
I was talking with a colleague some time ago and he was narrating how one of his lecturers wanted to have the source code to a job they both collaborated on for a client. The short of the story is that he declined. Whatever his reasons were, it is a challenge a lot of developers in this country or even continent face.
I created my sourceforge account way back in 2004 or so and I can count the number of projects I’m contributing to - that is if I ever did. Like I said, this has got to change and change starts from me. African developers need to embrace an open culture and share the knowledge they have. There’s no need to fear that someone will claim your work. Let’s view it as a contribution to the common good.
I intend to use this blogging platform alongside others that will come along the way to educate and inform other developers about what I’m learning and what I’ve learnt.
