[asterisk-users] (announce) asterisk T.38 gateway

[Lee Howard]

Matt Watson wrote:
> I'd probably be a little pissed if I were Steve Underwood if somebody
> pocketed over 10k $USD for taking credit for a product that my free library
> did the bulk of the work for.

I can't speak for Steve at all, but any major contributor to an 
open-source project faces this, so maybe my comments can be helpful in 
understanding at least how *I* feel on this matter.

As an open-source contributor I have tried to make it very clear to 
those who choose to use my contributions that *no* thanks or other 
expressions of gratitude are required or expected.  I have already 
received my just reward; I make sure of that before I even undertake the 
development process.  Certainly a thanks here or there is welcome and 
heart-warming.  And best of all is when someone else chooses to help in 
the development process.  But none of that is expected or required.

I've worked for (and received) a bounty before, but in that case I did 
not release the code until after the bounty was received or in the hands 
of an escrow agent.  As T.38 gateway development for Asterisk was worth 
so very much more than US$10K, I can't help but believe that Steve's 
motivation was from elsewhere, and that he did not necessarily have his 
sights on that goal.

However, if it was *me* who had put up that bounty I would double-check 
that the claimant actually did the work before I paid out... and I would 
divide up the bounty payment accordingly if it was not all done by that 
person.

Thanks,

Lee.