What I wish I knew before contributing to Open Source

I'm not a developer myself. But there are many on STEEM blockchain. Personally I love using Free and Open Source Software for obvious reasons. But not everything is sunshine and rainbows.

When I was a young idealist I used to look at Richard Stallman as a hero.
To my eyes, he was the man who discovered Free Software and hacked a license to protect its core values: trust and respect.
Indeed, the freedoms imposed by the GPL are designed to ensure that developers trust and respect each other.
Like in the early hacking communities.
Growing, I became more cynical, and I lost interest about these topics.
I started to use terms like Open Source and Free Software interchangeably.
After all, who does really care about definitions?
Well, the way Harvey managed this affair taught me a valuable lesson.
There is no such thing like FLOSS.
Free Software and Open Source Software are completely different things.
Free Software feels proud of each person that contributes.
Whatever the license, a Free Software community will be very happy to add your name to their code base. Because you studied and changed the code.
You made it useful. You are a sign of honor.
They trust you. And respect you.
On the other hand, Open Source managers are eager to take your code.
But while your code becomes their asset, your copyright is a liability.
Beware of this, if you are going to donate your time and skills to some hyped Open Source project leaded by some big firm.

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