The problem with Github being completely open source is that no one would pay for the service part of it, which is the only way it can exist.
I don't understand your point. Surely people do pay for hosted storage, even when the code is available?
Sure, except that storage is a commodity which you need to get pretty large scale to turn a decent profit, code is fairly light on on space. Github is able to charge a very large premium on it because of the unique service that they supply.
It'd've been advantageous to see this go on a purely open service like Gitorious instead. They often provide similar features as GitHub and could definitely use the exposure of Linus's account. I use and enjoy GitHub, so this definitely isn't a personal gripe, I'd just like to see the competition in that space heat up a bit, and there'd be bonus points if we could simultaneously promote a completely open platform.
Why github Linus?
"[...] it was just the first one that came up when I googled for "git hosting". I've not tried any of the hosting places before, so it was a random choice."
I don't understand your point. Surely people do pay for hosted storage, even when the code is available?
Sure, except that storage is a commodity which you need to get pretty large scale to turn a decent profit, code is fairly light on on space. Github is able to charge a very large premium on it because of the unique service that they supply.
GitHub is certainly overpriced for its private plans, but I don't think releasing the source would destroy their profitability. Once the ball gets rolling on something like GitHub, network effects play a major role in its continued usage and popularity. Good support and constant evolution of the platform also encourage users to pay for your hosted service even if the code is available elsewhere. GitHub's features like pull requests, profiles, and expected presence on resumes as the de-facto standard "git hub" (har, har, har), and overall convenience would continue to promote usage of github.com.
Sure, except that storage is a commodity which you need to get pretty large scale to turn a decent profit, code is fairly light on on space. Github is able to charge a very large premium on it because of the unique service that they supply.
GitHub is certainly overpriced for its private plans, but I don't think releasing the source would destroy their profitability. Once the ball gets rolling on something like GitHub, network effects play a major role in its continued usage and popularity. Good support and constant evolution of the platform also encourage users to pay for your hosted service even if the code is available elsewhere. GitHub's features lik…
Github's widest margins are obviously at the high end business plans, and businesses would run an internal github in a second if it was OSS. There goes Github FI as well. It would cripple them, the only way they can possible host all open source projects at no charge is because they are subsidized by the big fish.
The "torvalds" github account claims to have been created today. Did github have reserve that account name for Linus or did they boot a squatter? I see there dubious accounts registered for "linustorvalds", "billgates", and "stevejobs" but not "billg" or "sjobs".
btw stevejobs uploaded Windows 8 source code in 2009! Bill, you might want to give Steve a call. ;)
It'd've been advantageous to see this go on a purely open service like Gitorious instead. They often provide similar features as GitHub and could definitely use the exposure of Linus's account. I use and enjoy GitHub, so this definitely isn't a personal gripe, I'd just like to see the competition in that space heat up a bit, and there'd be bonus points if we could simultaneously promote a completely open platform.
The problem with Github being completely open source is that no one would pay for the service part of it, which is the only way it can exist.
Gitorious exists just fine doing that, they make money off support and consulting, same way most other FOSS projects that make money do it.