Open source and code sharing

Open source software means to share the code with a community, seems logical... or not ?

I'll not start the usual utterly long post about the Better World Built on Open Source Code. Too many have done that.

I want to discuss about a bad habit I'm seeing more and more: assuming that since you're contributing to Open Source software, anyone can ask you the code you're working on with little o no "thanks".

And this leads to the question: why someone should contribute to Open Source software ?
The answer is not simple, and I'm neither a psychologist or a sociologist, so take the following with a grain of salt.
In my opinion the answers may be:

• Self-esteem: being the author of a publicly-available software (maybe used by many) is a great reward.
• Hobby/fun: the author is doing it by hobby, and he/she can't care less to get some money out of it.
• Antagonism/idealism: the author is trying to **** the system, and wants to go against the "lobbies".
• It's research stuff: the author is a researcher, and the code has been used to prove a theory or a model. Since the research is (usually) paid by other means, the code may be released to the public.

Whatever the reason is, there's one point in common. The author wants to be recognized as the author. Sharing doesn't means that the code is given for free. Implicitly, anybody using it is giving you credit for your work.

Now, what is the worst thing that can happen with Open Source software ?
The answer is simple: that the author doesn't receive proper credits. That's why the Copyrights are used. The various Open Source licenses are all about this: you may use the code, but you have to give proper credits.

But there's another point. Making the code better. Improve it. And this will be the topic of the next rant.