--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Companies have been trying to figure out…" description: "\"Companies have been trying to figure out what it is that makes open source work.\" — Brian Behlendorf" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/brian-behlendorf-27914_been_companies-have-been-trying-to-figure-out_1340361.png" --- # Companies have been trying to figure out what it is that… ![“Companies have been trying to figure out what it is that makes open source work.” quote by Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/brian-behlendorf-27914_been_companies-have-been-trying-to-figure-out_1340361.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/brian-behlendorf-27914_been_companies-have-been-trying-to-figure-out_1340361.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/brian-behlendorf-27914_been_companies-have-been-trying-to-figure-out_1340361.png) > “Companies have been trying to figure out what it is that makes open source work.” [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explores the underlying factors that make open source projects successful. **In simple terms:** Identify why open source thrives. Key Takeaway Focus on collaboration and openness. Themes technology collaboration innovation Mood analytical curious Type technical philosophical When to use this quote - software development - startup culture - non‑profit projects Key Concepts open source dynamics community governance Questions to Reflect On - What motivates contributors beyond money? - How does governance affect project health? A Different Perspective Open source can struggle without clear leadership or funding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companies/) [Open source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-source/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [When companies are trying to find a state to locate a new business or factory, they look at a number of factors - including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-musgrove/when-companies-are-trying-to-find-a-state-to-locate-a-new-business-or/) [Ronnie Musgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-musgrove/) > [You get a lot of apps and companies that are trying to sell you on something that's totally useless or potentially unhealthy. Only occasionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleditch/you-get-a-lot-of-apps-and-companies-that-are-trying-to-sell-you-on/) [Thomas Middleditch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleditch/) > [There are companies trying to build business within Saudi Arabia, and what they find is that if they try to bring on locals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-companies-trying-to-build-business-within-saudi-arabia-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ideas are always the source of the work. The form needs to emerge from the idea, not be top-down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramell-ross/ideas-are-always-the-source-of-the-work-the-form-needs-to-emerge-from/) [RaMell Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramell-ross/) > [Most modern painters work from a different source. They work from within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pollock/most-modern-painters-work-from-a-different-source-they-work-from/) [Jackson Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pollock/) > [Often, companies are trying to chase growth and get into other categories or go international too quickly, and they can get in trouble doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-blumenthal/often-companies-are-trying-to-chase-growth-and-get-into-other/) [Neil Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-blumenthal/) > [But by shining these lights in different places, they really have uncovered things that companies in their own interest are trying to clean up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietra-rivoli/but-by-shining-these-lights-in-different-places-they-really-have/) [Pietra Rivoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietra-rivoli/) > [Common mission trap for companies: trying to be all things to all people at all times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/common-mission-trap-for-companies-trying-to-be-all-things-to-all/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I think what's happening is companies are trying to maximize shareholder value and I think they realized that if they could hire more effectively,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-corcodilos/i-think-what-s-happening-is-companies-are-trying-to-maximize/) [Nick Corcodilos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-corcodilos/) > [When companies are trying to find a state to locate a new business or factory, they look at a number of factors - including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-musgrove/when-companies-are-trying-to-find-a-state-to-locate-a-new-business-or-2/) [Ronnie Musgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-musgrove/) > [In true open source development, there's lots of visibility all the way through the development process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/in-true-open-source-development-there-s-lots-of-visibility-all-the/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [I'm not of the opinion that all software will be open source software. There is certain software that fits a niche that is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/i-m-not-of-the-opinion-that-all-software-will-be-open-source-software/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [In true open source development, theres lots of visibility all the way through the development process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/in-true-open-source-development-theres-lots-of-visibility-all-the-way/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [I won't sit here and say an Open Source project will do things faster than a closed source, but one of the reasons why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/i-won-t-sit-here-and-say-an-open-source-project-will-do-things-faster/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [What's kept Java from being used as widely as possible is there hasn't been an Open Source implementation of it that's gotten really widespread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/what-s-kept-java-from-being-used-as-widely-as-possible-is-there-hasn/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) ## More by Brian Behlendorf > [Software as an asset isn't stable over time; it needs to be maintained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/software-as-an-asset-isn-t-stable-over-time-it-needs-to-be-maintained/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [Engineers in the developed world should be arguing not for protectionism but for trade agreements that seek to establish rules that result in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/engineers-in-the-developed-world-should-be-arguing-not-for/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [One of the biggest challenges facing the globe is the gap that exists in the wealth and standards of living enjoyed by the world's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/one-of-the-biggest-challenges-facing-the-globe-is-the-gap-that-exists/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [What's kept Java from being used as widely as possible is there hasn't been an Open Source implementation of it that's gotten really widespread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/what-s-kept-java-from-being-used-as-widely-as-possible-is-there-hasn/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [I won't sit here and say an Open Source project will do things faster than a closed source, but one of the reasons why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/i-won-t-sit-here-and-say-an-open-source-project-will-do-things-faster/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [No one wants one language. 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They have tried to rip the soul out of development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/corporations-have-been-killing-the-risk-taking-and-exploration-that/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [In true open source development, theres lots of visibility all the way through the development process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/in-true-open-source-development-theres-lots-of-visibility-all-the-way/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [Foreign trade is not a replacement for foreign aid, of course, but foreign aid to a country that doesn't also engage in significant amounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/foreign-trade-is-not-a-replacement-for-foreign-aid-of-course-but/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [There is no better form of trade a developing nation can engage in than to sell services provided by an educated population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/there-is-no-better-form-of-trade-a-developing-nation-can-engage-in/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [I'm not of the opinion that all software will be open source software. 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The innate goodness inside of all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/i-think-the-most-that-i-ve-learned-has-been-how-do-i-put-this-the/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [And, I think that is actually appropriate because I'm really not the world's best programmer, I think it's a good thing that I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/and-i-think-that-is-actually-appropriate-because-i-m-really-not-the/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) [Explore all 20 Brian Behlendorf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. 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I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. 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