People Write Linux Code To Fill A Need

Many Linux developments are begun because the programmer had a personal need for it, and had to write their own support. Most device drivers are written this way, because a developer had the hardware and wanted to use it under Linux. Some of these developments distributed with Linux are useful only to a few people - but they are very useful indeed, sometimes, to the people who use them.

The programming community has always had a very cooperative attitude - as Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation said, "Sharing code is the fundamental act of friendship between programmers." This attitude has served Linux, and all programmers, very well.

If one is writing code for fun, for one's own personal enjoyment, and is planning on sending that code into the world, one has plenty of motivation to make sure that the code is correct and performs well. One's reputation as a programmer may be at stake. Which brings us to our next point.