Open source works in the real world

Open source software is misunderstood. To many, the logic behind the open source movement doesn't make sense. I have heard the phrase "Why do something for free when you can get paid?" many times, even from professors or experienced developers. The primary thing that many misunderstand is that open source is not about altruism or not making money, its about recognizing the nature of problems and their solutions. Closed source software assumes that problems are well defined and that a one-size-fits-all solution can be found. In reality, problems are rarely defined and those problems that are often have subtle variants that necessitate a tweaked solution. Open source allows me to leverage the efforts of others with similar problems and find a solution custom fit for me that I then can contribute back and help others. This process, when repeated, creates software that is more capable and more powerful than what any single company could create and has a side effect of creating an ecosystem that fosters growth and even profits for those who understand how to leverage the ecosystem. I have grown used to the inquiries about why I use and contribute to open source and still extoll the virtues, but I am confident that as our problems get more complex open source communities will continue to create solutions and prove me right.